The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1875-07-01

In his "reminiscences OF Gen. IL. Il. Lee, Ne'.
J. W. Jones publishes, we believe, tor the flrst
time, the following letter:
NEAR APPoMATToX G. H., VA,
April -, 1865. !
HIS Ercellency Jefferson Davis:
MR. PRESIDENT 1t is with pain that l an
nounce to your Excellency the surrender of
the Army of Northern Virginia The opera
tions which preceded this result will be repor-
ted in full. T 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 retreat from the lines in front
of Richmond and Petersburg, and not finding
the supplies ordered to be placed there, nearly
twenty -four hours we're lost in endeavoring to
collect in the country subsistence for men and
horses. This delay was fatal, and could not be
retrieved. The troops, wearied by continued
fighting and marching for several days and
nights obtained neither rest nor refreshments,
and on moving Oh the 5th, on the Richmond
and Danville railroad, found at Jetersville
the enemy's cavalry, and learned the approach
of his infantry and the general advance OF his
army toward Burkeville. This deprived US of
the use of the railroad, and rendered it i'm
practicable to procure from Danville the sup
plies ordered to meet us at points of our march.
Nothing could be obtained from the adjacent
Y.
fore changed, and the march directed upon
Farmville, where supplies were ordered from
Lynchburg. The change Of route threw the
troops over the roads pursued by the artillery
and wagon trains west of the railroad, which
impeded our advance and embarrassed our
movements. On the morning of the 9Th, Gen.
Longstreets corps reached Rices Station on
the Gynchbnrg Railroad 1t was followed by
the commands of Gen. R. Fl. Anderson, 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 divisions, became discon-
nected with Mahone's division forming the rear
of Longstreet. The enemys cavalry penetra-
ted the line of march through the intervals
thus left, and attacked the wagon train moving
toward Farmville. This caused serious delay
in the march of the centre and rear OF the
column and enabled the enemy to mass upon
their flank After successive attacks, Ander-
sons and Ewells corps were captured or driven
from their position. The latter general, with
both of his division commanders, Kershaw and
Custis Lee, and his brigaders, were taken pris-
oners. Gordon, who all the morning, aided by
Gen. W. F. Lees cavalry, had checked the ad-
vance of the enemy on the road from Amelia
Springs, and protected the trains, became ex-
posed to his combined assaults, which he brave
ly resisted and twice repulsed; but the cavalry
having been withdrawn to another part of the
line of march, and the enemy massing heavily
on his trout and both fanks, renewed the attack
about D. m., and drove him from the field in
much confusion. 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,
a. bo;, Il l,v fofi
er, 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
Farmvile, 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 Longstreet and Gordon,
moved steadily on the road to Appomattox
Court House, thence its march was ordered by
Campbell Court House, through Pittsylvania
towards Danville. The roads were wretched
and the progress slow. BY great efforts the
head of the columns reached Apponattox
Court House on the evening of the 9Th, and
the troops were halted for rest. The march
was ordered to be resumed at one q. m., on the
9th. Fitz Lee, with the cavalry, supported by
Gordon, was ordered to drive the enemy from
his front, wheel to the left and cover the pas
sage of the trains, which Longstreet, who, from
Rice's Station had formed the rear guard,
should close up and hold the position. Two
battalions Of artillery and the ammunition
wagons were directed to accompany the army
the rest of the artillery and wagons to move
towards Lynchburg In the early part of the
night the enemy attacked Walkers artillery
train near Appomattox Station on the Lynch
burg railroad, and were repeled. Shortly af-
terwards their cavalry dashed toward the Court
House, till halted by our line. During the
night there were indications of large force
massing on our left and 'front.' Fitz lee was
directed to ascertain it's strength and to sus-
pend his advance till daylight if necessary.
About a. m, on the 9th, with Gordon on his
left, he moved forward and opened the way:
A heavy force of the enemy was discovered
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 threatening to envelop his LETT
flank. Gordon withdrew across the Appomat-
tox, and the cavalry advanced on the Lynch
burg road and became separated from the army.
Learning the condition of affairs on the lines
where l. had gone, under the expectation of
meeting Gen. Grant, to learn definitely the
terms he proposed in communication received
from him on the 9Th, in the event of the sur
render of the army, requested a suspension
of hostilites until these terms could be ar
ranged. In the interview which occurred with
General Grant, in compliance with my request,
terms having been agreed on, | surrendered
that portion of the Army of Northern Virginia
which was on the field, with its arms artillery
and wagon trains, the officers and men to be
paroled retaining their side arms and private
effects. deemed this course the best under
all the circumstances by which we were sur
rounded. On the morning of the 9th, accord
ing to the reports of the ordnance officers, there
were 1892 organized infantry with arms, with
an average Of IS rounds of ammunition per
man. The artillery, though reduced to G3 pie
ces, with 63 rounds of ammunition, was suffi-
cient. These comprised all the supplies of
ordnance that could be relied on in the State
of Yirginia. [ have no accurate report of the