The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1875-01-14
THE LAST OF THE WAR.
The Report Of Gen. Robert T.. Lee on 'he
surrender of the Army of Northern yir-
ginin-Thc First Published.

In the life OF Gen. Robert E. Lee
there is published for the first time the
report Of the closing operations of Lee
with the army of Northern Virginia, and
the particulars of his surrender at Apo
mattOX. The report is written to JEFF
ferson Davis It is with pain that 1 an
nounce to your Excellency the surren-
der of the army of Northern Virginia.
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 al Pnt0rr-
burg, and not finding the supplies or
dered to be placed there, nearly twenty
four hours were lost in endeavoring to
collect i'll the country subsistence for
men and horses. This delay was fatal,
and could not be retrieved. The troops,
wearied by continued fighting and march
ing for several days and nights, obtained
neither rest nor refreshment and on
moving on the 5th, on the Richmond
and Danville railroad, [ found at Jeters-
vile 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 imprac-
supplies ordered to meet us at points of
our march. Nothing could be obtained
from the adjacent country. Our route
to the Roanoke was therefore changed,
and the march directed upon Farmville,
where supplies were ordered from Lynch
burg. The change of route threw the
troops over the roads pursued by the az
tillery and wagon-trains west of the
railroad, which impeded our advance
and embarrassed our movements. On
the morning of the 9th Gen. Long
streets corps reached Rice's Station, on
the Lynchburg railroad. 1t was follow
ed by the commands of Gems. r. H. An
derson, 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. Joh hnson's divisions, became discon-
nectad with MahOne's division forming
the rear of Longstreet. The enemy's
cavalry penetrated the line of march
through the interval thus left, and at
tackled the wagon-train moving toward
Farmville. This caused serious delay in
the march of the center and rear of the
column, and enabled the enemy to mass
upon their flank. After successive at
tacls. Anderson's and Ewell's corps were
captured OF driven from their position.
The latter general, with both of his
division commanders, Kershaw and Gus
It's Lee, and his bligadiers, were taken
prisoners. Gordon, who all the morning,
aided by Gen. w. +. Lees cavalry, had
checked the advance Of the enemy on the
road from Amelia Springs, and protected
the trains, became exposed to his com
bined 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 heavily on his front and both
fanks, renewed the attack about P. NJ,
and drove him from the field in much
confusion. The army continued its
march during the night, and every effort
was made to reOrganize the divisions
which had been shattered by the days
operations but, the men being de-
pressed by fatigue and hunger, many
threw away their arms, while others fol
lowed the wagon trains and embarrassed
their progress.
On the morning of the 7th, rations
We're issued to the troops as they passed
Farmville, but the safety of the trains
requiring their removal upon the APP
proach Of the enemy, all could not be
supplied. The army, reduced to two
corps, under Longstreet and Gordon,
moved steadily on the road to Appomat-
toX Court House, thence its march was
ordered by Campbell Court House,
through Pittsylyania toward Danville.
The roads We're wretched and the pro-
gfess slow. By great efforts the head of
the column reached AppomattoX Court
House on the evening of the Sth and the
troops were halted for rest. The march
was ordered to be resumed at one A. NJ.
on the 9th. F'itz Lee with the cavalry,
supported by Gordon, was ordered to
drive the enemy from his front, wheel to
the lett and cover the passage of the
trains, while LOngstreet, who from Rice's
Station had formed the rear guard,
should close up and hold the position.
Two battaliOns of artillery and the ammu-
nitiOn.wagons were directed to accom-
pany 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
Appomattox Station ON the Lynchburg
railroad, and were repealed. Shortly
afterward their cavalry dashed toward
the Court House, till halted by our line.
During the night there We're indications
of n large force massing ON our left and
front. Fitz Lee was directed to ascer-
tain its strength, and to suspend his ad-
vance till daylight if necessary. About
5 A. NJ. on the 9th, with Gordon on his
left, he moved forward and opened the
way. A heavy force Of the enemy was
discovered opposite Gordon's right,
which, moving in the direction of Appo-
mattox 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
left flank. Gordon withdrew across the
river, and the cavalry adj
on the Lynchburg road and be
came separated from the army.
The condition of affairs on the lines
where l had gone, under the expectation
of meeting Gen. Grant, to learn definite
ly the terms he proposed in a communi-
cation received from him ON the Sth, in
the event of the surrender of the army,
[ requested a suspension of hostilities
until these terms could be arranged. In
the interview which occurred with Gen.
Grant, in compliance with my request,
terms having been agreed on, surren-
lered that portion of the army of North
ern Virginia which was ON the field, with
It's arms, artillery, and wagon trains, the
officers and men to be paroled, retaining
heir side arms and private effects. I