Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1871-02-07
sTAUNTON. VA, TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 1871.


General John B. Gordon, conducting the fight
as was his wont, with dash and vigor. A fe,
words were exchanged. He informed me of
conference held some hours before betwee
himself, Gen. Richard Anderson, and Others
in which it was determined that myself, as on
intimately associated with the Commander-in
Chief, should be requested to see him, if in &C
cordance with my views, and express to hin
our sense of the desperateness of the situation
and of the moral improperly of continuing
struggle now clearly hopeless man kille'
under such circumstances being, as we thought
rather murdered than martyred: My impress
ion being In the main of the same general cast
| agreed to see General Longstreet first, as mex
ly was done. General Longstreet met the sug
gestion at first with his accustomed impertur
bable resolution, objectiug in toto to an,
thought of disseminating the contest, and ad
ding that he believed his corps, or, what re
manned Of it, could ''still whip" as be ex
pressed it, three times their number of Yam
kees." Admiring his spirit, | readily ac
quiesced but suggested the inquiry whethe
they could withstand thirty times their mum
Der, as they would have to do He, in the Sc
quel, fully agreed that General Lee ought to bt
communicated with, and begged him to go il
person and express his own sense OF the situa
ton, if for no other reason to relieve the noble
heart of the great commander of the sense ot
soitariness in his mighty responsibility. The
veteran Lieutenant General, however, excused
himself on the score Of his being slow o.
speech, and requested me to represent hin
with the rest in submitting the statement of al
this to General Lee. / gladly make this state.
ment to the honor of General Longstreet
though differing with that officer as to- his re-
cent course as wide as the poles s5llf94
General Lee was lying on the ground Nc
other heard the conversation between him and
myself. He received my communication, with
the reply, Gracious heavens | trust it has
not come to that'' And added, General, we
have yet too many bold men to think of laying
down our arms. The enemy do not fight with
spirit like our boys still do. Besides, if were
to say word to the Federal commander, he
would regard it as such a confession OF weak
ness as to make it the occasion of demanding
unconditional surrender proposal to which
will never listen. have resolved to die first,
and that if it comes to that we shall force
through, or all fall in our places" l tell you,
friends, General Lee was the boldest man in all
that heroic band. The General went on
General this is no new question with me.
gantic combination for our subjugation, make
good in the long run our independence, unless
foreign Powers should, directly or indirectly,
assist US. This was sure it was their interest
and duty to do, and hoped they would so re-
gard it. But such considerations really made
with me no difference. We had, | was salts
fed, sacred principles to maintain and rights
to defend, for which we were in duty bound tc
do our best, even if we perished in the en-.
deavor!' These were, as nearly as [ can re-
call them, the exact words of General Lee on
that most critical occasion You see in them
the soul Of the man; what his conscience die
tated and his judgment decided, there his heart
was.
THE SURRENDER.
Another illustrative incident showing the
man occurred a few hours before the surrender
Engaged under his instructions the evening be-
fore, mile or two beyond Appomattox Court
house, in extricating an artillery command, ol
which one of my associates had charge, and
there exposed to capture, [ was recalled by q
message from himself. 1t was l A. M. Sun
day, 9th April, before, through the darkness
and danger, | succeeded in finding the General
His greeting, Good morning. General and
his fresh neatness of dress, as if for some inn
posing ceremony, surprised me. Gen. Long
street was with him. After few words as te
the condition of things in front, where | had
advance Of the night and at his full dress, and
yentured to ask what it meant? His reply
was, Il am to be Gen. Grants prisoner, ano
intend to make my best appearance
Still 1t was not definitely settled. There was
uncertainty whether his terms in response te
General Grants initial overture would be ac
corded and if not, there was yet solemn work
to be done.
The General, therefore. kindly urged me te
get some rest, and at the dawn 'be governed
by circumstances.
Those circumstances at daylight were, active
fighting along all our line. At no time during
the war did the boys in gray more gallantly
aequit themselves, and with more of dashing
alacrity, than on that memorable morning-dri.
wing the enemy before them at all points and
actually capturing their artillery at the very
last moment. Just before General Custar, oil
the Federal army, passed myself, near one OF
our batteries, under conduct of a staff officer OF
General Lee, with flag of truce, guns cap.
tured from the enemy we're borne by me to the
rear in triumph. Immediately, however, the
order came to ''cease firing" Honorable terms
were conceded, and General Lee resolved te
close the contest on the principles announced
in his inimitable farewell address.
FROM THE SURRENDER TILL HIS ARRIVAL IN
LEXINGTON.
The lecturer described the return of the great
commander to his home in Richmond--of the
terrible changes which he found there upon biz
arrival-of the smoking ruins on every street.
of the presence of the enemy's soldiery, anG
of the bitter humiliation of the once proue
capital of prouder State. Gen. Lee. soor
found that Richmond then was no home fol
him, and accepted the hospitality of noble
ubo. A,d "A l. e.
lily to live with her in her residence, situated
on the waters Of the upper James river The
lecturer then gave brief and interesting de
scription Of the little town of Lexington, sit
uated in the celebrated country known as th,
Valley of Virginia. He spoke of its beautiful
situation in the centre of plains, as level as
carpet, as green as an emerald, and as fertile a
the valley of the Egyptian Nile, walled in Of
one side by the picturesque peaks OF the ALE
ghanies, on the other side by the azure crest
of the Blue Ridge. He told of its first inhab
tants--the sturdy, industrious, faithful, liber
ty-loving Scotch. Irish-and the stout blows fo
independence which they struck in the war o
the Revolution. Of the seats of learning
there-W Washington College and the Virgins
Military Institute-and the patriotism Of th
students and professors each, who rushed t
arms at the first tap of the drum and moist
eneQ the Sdcrou SOIL OF virginia Win the DlO0t
of gray-haired men and striplings of sixteer
and seventeen.
He said that soon after the war ended Wash
ington College was reorganized, and messag
sent to General Lee. on the Upper James. ask
ing him to accept the presidency of the Insti
tuition. With accustomed prudence, Lee aske,
for time to consider the proposition before re
turning an answer. One evening, several day
afterwards, solitary traveller, mounted on al
iron-gray steed, rode across the mountains, an,
door of an inn in little village Just beyon,