Bristol news. [volume] (Bristol, Va. & Tenn.) 1867-189?, 1875-06-29

ious delay in the march of the centre
and rear Of the column, and enabled
the enemy to mass upon their flank.
After successive attacks, Anderson's
and Ewell's corps were captured or
driven from their position. The lat
ter general. with both of his division
commanders, Kershaw and Gusts Lee,
and his brigadiers, were taken pris-
Oners. Gordon, who all the morning,
aided by Gen, W. F, Lees cavalry.
had checked the advance of the enc
my on the road from Amelia Springs,
aud protected the trains, became ex>
posed to his combined assaults, which
he bravely resisted and twice re-
pulsed; but the cavalry having been
withdrawn to another part of the line
Of march, and the enemy massing
heavily on his front and both fankS,
renewed tue attack about 6 P. NJ. |
and drove him from the field in much
confession. The army continued its
march during the night, and every
effort was made to re-organize the
divisions which had been shattered
by the days Operations,' but, the
men being depressed by fatigue and
hunger, many threw away their arms.
while Others followed the wagon
trains and embarrassed their progress,
On the morning Of the 7th, rations
were issued 10 the troops as they
passed Farmville, but the safety of
the trains requiring their removal
upon the approach of the enemy, all
could not be supplied. The army,
reduced to TWO corps, under Longs
street and Gordon, moved steadily or
the road to AppOmattox Court house,
thence its march was ordered by
Campbell Courthouse through
Pittsylvania toward Danvile. The
roads were wretched and the progress
slow, BY great efforts the head of
the columns reacheded AppOmattox
Courthouse on the evening Of the
8th, and troops were halted for rest.
The march W S ordered to be resumed
at one 4. NJ. On the 9th. Ftz
Lee with the cavalry, supported by
Gordon. was ordered to drive the
enemy from his front, wheel to left
and rOver the passage OF the trains,
while Longstreet, who from Rice's
Station lad formed the rear guard,
should close up and hold position.
Two battalions of artillery and the
ammunition wagons were directed to
accompany the army; the rest of the
artillery and wagons 10 move toward
Lynchburg. In the early part Of the
night the enemy attacked Walkers
artillery train near ArpomattoX Sta
tion on tie Lyuchburg railroad, and
were repelIcd. Shortly afterward
their cavalry dashed toward the
Courthouse. till halted by our line,
During the night there were indica
tlons of a large force massing on our
left and trout. Filz Lee was directed
to ascertain its strength, and to sus-
pend his advance till daylight if ne.
cesSary. About 5 \. NJ. on the 9th,
with Gordon on his left, he moved
forward and opened the way A
heavy force Of the enemy was dis
covered opposite Gordon's right,
which, moving in the direction of
AppOmattox Court house, drove back
the left Of the cavalry and threatened
to cut off Gordon from LOngstreet,
his cavalry at the same time threaten
ing to envelop his left flank, Gordon
withdrew across the Appomattox
river, and the cavalry advanced on
the Lynchburg road and became
separated from the army. Learning
the condition of affairs on the lines
where l had gone, under the expecta>
ton of meeting General Grant, to
learn definitely the terms he propos-
ed in a communication received from
him on the 8th, in the. event of the
surrender of the army, [ requested
suspension of hostili.ies until these
terms could be arranged. In the in
terview which occurred with Gen.
Grant, in compliance with myrcquest,
terms having been agreed on, | sur
rended that portion of the Army of
Northern Virginia which was on the
field, with it's arms, artillery, and
wagon trains, the officers and men
to be paroIed retaining their side
arms and private effects. | deemed
this course the best under all the cir
cumstances by which We were sur
rounded. On the morning of the 9th,
according to the reports OF the ordnance
officers there we're 1892 organized
infantr ywith arms, with an average of
75rounds of ammunition per man. The
artillery, though reduced to 63 pieces.
with 90 rounds ammunition. was Suffi-
cient. These comprised all the sup
plies of ordnance that could be re-
lied on in the State of Virginia. |
have no accurate report of the caval-
ry, but believe it did not exceed 2. 100
effective men. The enemy was more
than five times our numbers. If we
could have forced our way one day
longer, it would have been at great
sacrifice OF life aud at its end | did
not see how a surrender could haYe
been avoided. We had no snbsist-
euce for man or horse. and it could
not be gathered in the country, The
supplies ordered to Pamplin's station
from Lyuchburg could not reach rs,
and the men, deprived of food aud
sleep for many days, we're worn out
and exhausted,
With great respect, your obedient
servant,
r. E. LEE, General.