The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1871-01-30

Appomattox Courthouse, in extrirating
an artillery command, Of which one of
my associates had charge, and there ex-
posed to capture, was recalled by mes
sage from himself. It was 1 A. Nj. Sunday,
9th April, before, through the darkness
and danger, I succeeded in finding
ing, General" and his fresh neatness of
dress, rs if for some imposing ceremony,
surprised me. General Lopgstreet was
with him. After O few words as to the
condition of things In front, where had
been, expressed my surprise, both as to
the advance Of the night and at his full
dress, and ventured to ask what it meant !?
His reply was, ~ am to be Gen. Grants
prisoner, and intend to make my best ap-
pearance." -.,. ...
Still it was not definitely settled. There
was uncertainty whether his terms in re-
sponse to General Grants initial overture
would be accorded and if not, there was
yet solemn work to be done. .-e
The General, therefore, kindly urged me
to get some rest, and at the dawn /" be gov
erned 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 CALAMITY acquit themselves, and with
more Of dashing alacrity, than on that
memorable morning-driving the enemy
before them at all points and actually cap
turing their artillery at the very last mo-
ment. Just before General Custar, of the
Federal army, passed myself, near one Of
cir batteries, under conduct of staff ot1-
Ger of General Lee, with a flag Of truce,
guns captured from the enemy were borne
BY me to the rear in triumph. Immediate
- n-Jn fp { fir
ing" Honorable terms were conceded,
and General Lee resolved to close the con-
test on the principles announced in his in
| imitable farewell address.
FROM THE SURRENDER TILL HIS ARRIVAL IN
LEXINGTON.
The lecturer described the return of the
great commander to his home in Rich
mond-of the terrible changes which he
| found there upon his arrival-of the smok-
| ing ruins on every street-of the presence
of the enemy's soldiery, and of the bitter
humiliation Of the once proud capital of a
prouder State. Gen. Lee soon found that
Richmond then was no home for him, and
accented the hospitality Of noble Virginia
matron. who invited him and his family to
| live with her in her residence, situated on
the waters of the upper James river. The
lecturer then gave brief and interesting
description of the little town of Lexington,
situated in the celebrated country known
as the Valley of Virginia. He spoke of Its
beautiful situation in the centre of plains,
as level as carpet, as green as an eme-
raid, and as fertile rs the valley of the
egyptian Nile, walled in on one side by the
picturesque peaks of the Alleghanies. on
the other by the azure crests of the Blue
| Ridge. He told Of its first inhabitants
the sturdy, industrious, faithful, liberty
loving Scotch Irish-and the stout blows
for independence which they struck in the
war of the Revolution. fthe seats Of learn
ing Washington College and the
Virginia Military Institute-and the pa
triotsm of The students and professors in
cach. who rushed to arms at the first tap of
the drum and moistened the sacred soil of
| and striplinos of sixteen and seventeen.
He said that soon after the war ended
| Washington College was reorganized, and
a message sent to General Lee, on the
Upper James, asking him to accept the
presidency of the institution. With ac-
customed prudence, Lee asked for time to
consider the proposition befoIe returning
an answer. One evening, several days
afterwards, a solitary traveller, mounted
on an iron-gray steed, rode across the
mountains, and drew the bridle-rein just
| before nlSht at Tue uoOr OF an Inn 10 u
little village just beyond the mountains.
4 few minutes afterwards an eX-Confed-
crate soldier recognized Z" "Marse Robert"
and the news spread that Lee had arrived.
The population OF the village turned out
en- inasSe, surrounded the inn, and begged
the privilege of touching the old hero's
palm. The next morning he mounted his
horse, rode quietly into Lexington, and up
to the door of the college. and, dismount-
ing, announced that he had come TO accept
the position which he had been rendered.
AS soon as it was known that Lee was at
the head Of the college, large numbers Of
students came to it from States south of the
Potomac, and in a short time there were in
attendance more than $50 young men, the
flower of the southern country, who had
come here to be moulded and trained in
the school Of Lee.