Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1868-01-30

had surrounded and had in their clutch
less than 5000 armed infantry, and the
commander of the 5000 when summoned
to surrender, replied that in his opinions
the emergency for that step had not arisen.
4 That was on the 9th. On the morning
of the 9th the tragedy had reached the last
scene
AS the little skirmish line of Gordon
mounted the Appomattox Court House hill
the advanced force of the Federal army
was extending steadily across his front.
Then last attack was made, aud the
Federal lines were driven nearly half
mile. Raked by the artillery of Colone,
I Carter, their ranks were broken, and Cor
don made his last great charge. Before
it the huge mass fell back, bat then
the great wave returned. Artillery thun-
dered, musketry Notwithstanding, atag-
gering, dying of starvation, the men fought
on.
Then the last moment came. The time
seemed to have arrived when the Old
Guard of the Army of Northern Virginia.
under Gordon and Longstreet, beneath the
eye of Lee, would be called on to shed
over the last scene of the war, the glory of
an heroic death. Longstreet was march
ing slowly and steadily from the rear to
the front. Every veteran grasped his mus
ket and moved on with measured tramp,
when all at once Gordon's poor little skir-
mish line was seen emerging from the
woods, still lighting as they retreated; and
on the left, beyond the forest, great mass
of dark cavalry came steadily on, with
drawn sabre, to the work of hutchery.-
Then, at that last moment. something like
a magical calm, a mysterious silence, came.
The storm lulled all at once, as if at the
bidding Of some enchanter's wand; and on
the heights Of Appomattox appeared a
dark blue column, waving in front Of them
a white flag.
Lee had surrendered the army The
odds Of 100000 against s, 900 was too
great, and the long and terrible wrsstle
ended
When the old cavalier came back from
his interview with Grant, the men crowd
ed around him with pale faces, eyes full of
fiery tears, and bosoms shaken by fierce
sobs. Does any reader regard this picture
as overdrawn ? Ask those who saw 1t;
demand of any one present whether the
| firm hand of Lee was not necessary to
suppress the veritable rage of many, from
General to private soldier. But Lee was
still the great directing head of the army;
what he had done, all felt was well done;
and the men crowded around him, utter
ing hoarse EXPLANATIONS, aud shaking him
by the hand-their breasts convused with
sobs, their scarded faces wet with tears
To the eyes of Lee the q uick tears came in
response.
Il have done what thought was best
for you" he said, my heart is too full to
speak, but I wish you all health and hap
/ piness."
The day passed, then the night-on the
10th the army surrendered formally, stack
ed arms, abandoned their columns, and
dispersed to their homes. The Federal
commander had acted throughout all with
the generosity of soldier, and the high
breeding of gentleman. Not cheer
heard, not band played in the Federal
army When far off a shout arose over
the woods, one of the Federal officers
fastened to apologize for it.
"This is the -guard-those fellows
did none of the fighting" he said.
AS to those who had fought-the vete-
ran army of the Potomac, tried in battle,
in victory, in defeat, in all the hard life
Of a soldier-they did not cheer when their
old adversaries surrendered. They were;
SILENT and saluted when ragged Confed'
crate passed They felt what surrender
must be to the men of that army which
had fought for four years and not cheer
or brass band was heard.
On the 10th of April 1865, the old SOL
diers Of the Army of the Potomac stretched
the hand of comrades to the foe ehey had
! fought SO long. To-day they are ready to
do as much, if the civilians would only
let them. There is a parsonage more fe-
rocious and implacable than the fercest
soldier-it is the man who has staid at
home; never smelt the odor Of powder,
who, while the rest fought. cried, clapping
bis hands:
Flight on, my brave boys! You are
covering yourselves with glory, and we are
watching you.'
If the civilians had been at Appomattox
they would have butchered or handcufed
/ the. men ofLee-would you not, Messieurs?
You would certrinly had split the air with
every brass band Of the army, and shoated
s.Hosannah" at our humiliation
Well, see the difference between men
who fight and men who do not, The old
soldiers of the Army of the Potomac kept
quiet when Lee appeared at Gen. Graut's
quarters. every. head was uncovered
Victory saluted defeat. q
So ended the war. M
The last coach which arrived at Fort
Hayes. Kansas. from Santa Fe. reports a
regular fight between the Americans and