The daily gazette., 1875-06-18

4
believe, for the first time, the follow
ing letter:
NEAR APPoMATTox, G. H., Va,
April 18th, 1865. :
His Ercellsncy Jefferson Davss:
Mr.. PREsIDENT:-It is with pain
that announce toyour Excellency the
surrender Of the Army of Northern
Virginia. The operations which pre-
ceeded this result will be reported In
full. will therefore only now state
that upon arriving at Amelia court
house on the morning of the 4th with
the advance of the army, on the re-
treat from the lines in front OF Rich
mond and Petersburg, and not finding
the supplies ordered to be placed there
nearly twenty-four hours were lost in
endeavoring to collect in the country
subsistence for men and horses. This
delay was fatal, and could not be re-
trieved. The troops, wearied by con-
tinued fighting and marching for sew
days and nights, obtained neither rest
nor refreshment, and on moving on
the 9TH, on the Richmond and Dam
vile Railroad, found at Jetersville
the enemy's cavalry, and learned the
approach of his infantry and the gen.
eral advance of his army toward Burk-
vile. This deprived US of the use of
the railroad and rendered 1t impiacti-
cable to procure from Danville the
supplies ordered to meet us at points
of our march. Nothing could be OBJ
tanned from the adjacent country. Our
route to the Roanoke was therefore
. changed, and the march directed upon
Farmville, where supplies were order
ed from Lynchburg. The change of
route threw the troops over the roads
pursued by the artillery and wagon
trains west of the railroad, which I'M
peded our advance and embarrassed
our movements. On the morning of
the 9th General Longstreet's corps
{ reached Rice's Station, on the Lynch
burg railroad. 1t was followed by the
Commands of Generals r. III. Ander-
son, Ewell and Gordon, with orders
to close upon it as fast as the progress
of the trains would permit, or as they
could be directed, on roads further
west. Gen. Anderson, commanding
Pickett's and B. r. Johnson's divis.
ions, became disconnected with Ma
homes division forming the rear of
Longstreet. The enelny's cs valry PEN
etrated the line of the march through
the intervals thus left, and attacked
the wagon train moving toward Farhi-
vile. This caused serious delay in
tho march of the centre and rear OF
the column, and enabled the enemy to
mass upon their flank. After success.
sive attacks, Andelson's. ard Ewell's
corps were captured or driven from
their position. Tho latter general,
| with both his division commanders,
Kershaw and Custis Lee, and his
brigadiers " ere taken prisoners. Cor.
don, who all the morning, aided by
Gen. w. L. Lee cavalry, had checked
the advance of the enemy on the road
from Amelia Springs. and protected
the trains, became exposed to his
combi cd assaults, which he bravely
resisted and twice repulsed; but the
cavalry having been withdrawn to
another part of the line of march, and
the enemy massing heav:ly on his
front and both TANKS, renewed the
attack about 9 p. m, and drove them
from the fed In much cOnfusion.-
The army continued its march during
the night, and every effort was maze
" RdlllLC lAN alNiSkOto "biSh dob
been shattered by the days operations;
but, the men being depressed by ia.
; tigue and hunger, many threw away
their arms, while others followed the
wagon trains and embarrassed their
progress. On the morning of the 9Th,
rations were issued to the troops as
they passed Farnville, but the safety
of the trains requiring their removal
upon the approach OF the enemy, all
could not be supplied. The army,
reduced 10 two corps, under Longstreet
and Gordon, moved steadily on the
Dad to the Appomattox court house,
thence its march was ordered by Camp
bell court house, through Pittsylvania
toward Danville. The roads were
wretched and the progress slow. By
! great efforts the head of the columns
reached Appomattox court house, on
the evening Of tho 9Th, and the troops
were halted for rest. The march was
! ordered to be resumed at one a. m. on
the 9Th. Fitzhugh Lee, with the cav
airy, supported by Gordon, was order
ed to drive the enemy from his front,
wheel to the left and cover the pas
sage of the trains, while Longstreet,
who from Rice's Station had formed
the rear guard, should close up and
hold the position. Two battallions Of
artillery and the ammunition wagons
| were directed to accompany the army,
the rest of the artillery and wagons to
move toward Lynchburg. In the early
part of the night the enemy attacked
Walkers artillery train near Apo
mattox Station on the Lynchburg rail
road, and were repelled. Shortly af-
terward their cavalry dashed toward
the court house, till lhalted by our line.
During the night there were indica.
tions of large force massing on our
left and front. Fitzhugh Lee was di-
rected to ascertain its strength, and to
suspend his advance till daylight if me-
cessary. About ga. m, on the 9th,
with Gordon on his left, he moved for
ward and opened the way. A heavy
force of the enemy was disco gered ep
posite opposite Gordon's right, which,
moving In the direction of Appomat-
tox court house, drove back tho left