Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1865-04-13
,mattox river on the north. cut

ouely, dnddof some time prisk engagement
was carried on. About nine q. m. nag-of-
truce appeared In front of his line and he was
informed that hosiilities had been suspended
in order to arrange terms of surrender. This
Ord, consenting to q cessation of firing so as
to communicate with Genr Grant and was
done. it is said, without authority.
= General =. Sheridan's Adiutant General
was allowed to come through the rebel column
to communicate with General Meade, who
stated that he knew Of no such arrangement,
and that he was about to move forward in &C.
cordance with his previous intentions. Genu
Lee, however, sent another message, desiring
to have an interview with General Grant, to
arrange the terms OF surrender, and General
Meade was thus obliged to grant two hours
armistice in order to communicate with Gen'l
Grant, who had moved around the left during
the night. .
The two hours expired without any result,
and the second corps, under General hum
phreys, had commenced to advance, WneR
word came to halt, General Grant conserving
to see General Lee, and discuss the matter.
About half. past four O'Clock, Lieut.. Col. Whit
tier, of General Wrght's staff, came in and re.
ported the terms arranged and the papers
signed, when the greatest excitement pre- vailed
throughout our lines, cheer upon cheer rending
the air.
Soon after, General Meade and staff, with
other officers rode along the lines Of the second
and sixth corps, and they were greeted with
the most enthusiastic shouts the men throw
ing their hats IN the air and fairly dancing
with Joy. No such scene has ever before been
witnessed in this army; and the thanks of the
whole country are due TO the brave men and
their heroic commanders, who have achieved
such great and glorious victory.
1t is understood that the men of Lees army
are to be paroled and allowed to return to their
homes. They gave up everything In their
hands; but last night they destroyed large
amounts OF property, in the shape or wagons,
gun carriages, baggage, papers, etc. The mum.
Der of Lees forces is put down at about twenty
thousand men. Very few guns are in their
possession, as they have abandoned nearly all
they did rot lose in action. Thrty.eigh were
brought in yesterday, and several this morn
Ing; WIN, an, Ala -. ,.o,s ,n,, .ro cold
to be we'll satisfied to give up the struggle, be-
ieving that they have no hope of success, but
if General Lee had refused to surrender they
would still have stuck to him. The officers
mainly are surly and discontinued, but this
feeling will soon wear of when they find how
literally our people are disposed to treat them.
Another letter from the Army of the Pc.
tomac, dated April 18th, says the final arrange
ments for the surrender Of Lees army were
completed yesterday, and to-day they are at
liberty to proceed to their homes or elsewhere,
as they chose.
The terms granted Were certainly of a very
liberal character. Asiarge number OF officers
army, express their dissatisfaction, not only at
the Unprecedented liberality granted to the
Army of Northern Virginia, but at the manner
in which they are paroled and allowed to go
their way without our men being permitted &c
enjoy the results of their long struggle in the
passage through the lines Of Gen Lee and his
Illuminating to Gen. Lee and his officers, and
that it IS not the wish or desire Of our Govern
mept or commanders TO act toward them In
any way that would tend to irritate their feel
ings or make their position more intolerable
than it actually is. The policy pursued may
have been tor the best, and our soldiers will
submit, as they always do, to what is jadged
During Tuesday night and Monday large
numbers of the rebeis as well as some Off GERS
made their escape from the lines and scattered
Ylrht hn nndC ms n hnlrht int or n inn
to return home. Our camps, last night, were
filled with them, begging something to eat,
which, of course, was freely given. These
men, when asked If they had been parOIed in
variably replied no, but were allowed 10 go
where they pleased
The number Gen. Lee claimed to be able to
give up was 10000 muskets, with as as many
more men from the Commissary, z uartermas-
ter hospital and other departments, but Off.
GERS who have been permitted to pass through
their camp assert that not more than seven or
eight thousand will be found to have been sur
rendered
The cavalry operating with Lee was also
turned over, but only small force, with
stating that the best had been picked out and
sent to Johnston.
The number Of guns given up was thirty,
with from three to four hundred wagons, very
little ammunition and no supplies. As an
evidence of the state Of their commissary when
they reached Farmville, the residents tell us
they had been issuing ears of corn to the men
for several days previous. but that ia train from
Lynchburg met them there with -four and pork.
Dat of some two thousand horses turned over
to us not more than two hundred were found
to be worth a single ration OF forage Tor each
I,nrnn,iseio"nr T"Id and Assistant Commits
sloner Hatch were captured on their way from
Richmond toward Danville and brought into
camp Sunday. They had large Southern ex-
press wagon filled with cigars, liquors and
luxuries, and by some understand ding were al
lowed to go into Lees lines. They returned
last evening and are said to have gone to Rich
mond on some business connected with the ex-
change question.
Orders were issued last evening tor a move.
ment Of the troops now here. The ID and 9th
corps are to start this morning for Burks vile
Junction; the cavalry and gath corps to go
toward Danville, while the 5th will remain to
take possession of and bring away the property
and effects of Lees army.
The trains are now running to Burks vile
junction, but the road being ia rather shaky
condition. not much regularity is as vet obtain.
able in the time table.
Brigadier General Smyth died on the 9th,
from the effects of the wound received on the
9th instant. His body has been embalmed and
is on its way to his late home. He lived in
WilmiDg tOn, Delaware, and leaves a wife and
child 10 mourn his loss.
jor General Mott, who was badly wound
ed in the engagement of the 9th, while gall
lantly leading his men in a charge on rebel
wagon train left for his home this morning, on
a leave Of absence. General Motifs wound is
just below the knee the ball passing through
between the bones.
The following der has been issued by Gen.
Grant:
HEADQUARTERS ARMIES OF THE U. S. IN THE
FIELD, VIRGINIA, April II, 1S65-Specal Or
ders, No. 7.-Paragraph OF special orders No
as of date March 18th. 1865, from these head.
quarters suspending trade operations within
the States of Virginia except that portion known
as Eastern Shore, and the States of North Caro-.
lima, South Carolina and that portion of the
State OF Georgia Immediately bordering upon
the Atlantic. including the city OF Savannah,
until further orders is hereby revoked
BY command OF Lieut.. GenI Grant
T. S, Bowers, A AG