Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1871-03-08

LUIS accordingly was dOnc. Ueherd
Longstreet met the suggestion al frs
with his accustomed imperturbabl'
resolution, objecting in toto TO am
thought of discontinuing the contest
and adding that he believed his corps
or what remained Of it, could "stil
whip, as ho expressed it, "thre,
times their number of Yankees" Ad
miripg his spirit, readily acquicsced
but suggested the inquiry whether
they could withstand thirty time
their number which they would hav'
to do. He, in the sequel, fully agreed
that General Lee ought to be commu
nicated with, and begged him TO e
in porson and express his own sens'
of the situation, If for no other roa
son, TO relieve the noble heart of the
great commander Of the sense of soil
tariness in his mighty responsibility
The veteran Lieutenant Genera, how
ever, excused himself on the score o.
his being slow of speech, and reques
tod me TO represent him with the rest
in submitting the statement of all this
to General Lee. gladly make thi:
statement to the honor of General
Longstreet, though differing with
that officer as to his recent course az
wide as the poles.
Gen. Lee was lying on the ground
No other heard tie conversation be-
tween him and myself He received
my communication with the reply,
"Gracious heavens j trust it has not
come to that p And added, "Gener-
al, 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, il | were
to say word TO the Federal com.
mander, he would regard il as such a
confession OF making it the occasion
of demanding unconditional surrender
"a proposal 10 which | will never lis.
ten. / have resolved TO die first, and
that if it come TO that, we shall force
through, or fall in our places" i 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. / have
never believed We could, against the
gigantic combination for our subjuga.
ton, make good in the long run our
independence, unless foreign powers
should, directly or indirectly, assist
us. This l was sure it was their in
terest and duty to do, and / hoped
they would so regard it, But such
considerations really made with me
no difference. We had, / was satisfied
sacred principles TO maintain and
rights TO defend, for which we were
in duty bound to do our best, even il
we perished in the endeavor p These
were, as nearly as / can recall them,
the exact words of General Lee on
that most critical occasion. You see
in them the soul of the man what his
conscienee dictated and his Judgment
decided, there his heart was.
THE SURRENDER.
Another illustrative incident show.
ing the man occurred few hours be-
fore the surrender. Engaged under
his Instructions the evening be.
fore, a mile or two beyond Appomat.
tox Court House, in extricating an
artillery command, of which ono of
my associates had charge, and there
exposed TO capture, | was recalled by
message from himself 1t was A.
NJ. Sunday, 9th April, before, through
the darkness and danger, ! succeeded
in finding the General. His greeting,
"Good morning, General" aud bis
fresh neatness Of dress, as if for some
imposing ceremony, surprised me-
General Longstreet was with him.
After few words as to the condition
of things at the 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 il meanty His reply was, 81
am to be General Grants prisoner,
and intend to make my best appear
anoe"
Still it was not definitely settled =
There was uncertainty whether his
terms in response TO General Grants
initial overture would be accorded
and if not, there was yet solemn work
TO be done.
Tho General, therefore, kindly
urged me TO get some rest, and at the
dawn "be governed by circumstan
ces."
Those circumstances at daylight
were active fighting along all oul
line. AT no time during the war did
the boys in "gray" moro gallantly
acquit themselves, and with more o.
dashing alacrily, than on that memo
rable morning-driving the enemy
before them at all points and actually
capturing their artillery at the very
last moment. just before Genera
Custar, of the Federal army, passed
myself, near one Of our batteries. un
der conduct of a staff officer of Gen
eral Lee, with a flag of truce, gum
tupluTtu iTOiu lut cuNill nNib bVi wv
by me to the rear in triumph. I'm
mediately, however, the order camt
to "cease firing" Honorable term'
were conceded, and General Lee re
solved TO close the contest on the prin
ciples announced in his inimitabl'
farewell address.
FROM THE SURRENDER UNTIL HIS An
RIVAL IN LEXINGTON.
The lecturer described the return
of the great commander TO his hom'
in Richmond-of the terrible change;
which he found upon his arrival
OF the smoking ruins on every street
of the presence of the oneIny's sol
diory, and of the bitter humiliation o
the once proud capital of proudel
State. Gen. Lee soon found tina
Richmond then was no home fo
him, aud accepted the hospitality
of a noble Virginia matron, who invi
ted him and his family 10 live will
her in her residence, situated on th'
watersof the upper Jamesriver. Th'
lecturer then gave u brief and interes