The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1876-02-01
published BY REQUEST. |
TFrom the New DIRK Herald, 1amlart2E.i
Last Hours Of the COntcderacy.

From the New ork HeraluiSasSlarEZG.I
Last Hours Of the COntederaey.
WHAT GENERAL GEORGE &. SHARP KNOWS OF
rYE DECLINE AID TALL dF THE REBELLION. !
General George II. Sharp, surveyor of the
mort of New York, delivered lecture last
evening In the Barlem Congregational church
on "The Last Hours Of the Confederacy."
It is doubtful if there is another man in the
whole country so well qualified to speak upon
this sui ject as General Sharp. Serving upon
General Grant's stsf from the time that
officer assumed command Of the armies Of
the United States until the Surrender Of the
Army of Northern Virginia, having eyclu-
siye management of the sscret-servce branch
of the army, and being w;thal keen OBJ
server, General Sharp knows more of the
Last struggles Of the Southern Confederacy
than aoy man either North or South.
His lecture last evening was replete With
notwithstanding historical facts auo per-
sonal "reminiscences. beginning with what
be termed ~thc falling fortunes Of ths Con-
federacy,1 the speaker said that it was not
until the winter of tS64-'65 that the north
ern commanders were at all accurately in
formed Of the position, strength, and re-
sources of the enemy. = At the commence
ment Of the struggle the Confederate ~! ar
Office knew the number and strength OF
every regiment that marched through Wash.
ington in aess than thrty.six hours after its
arrival at the capital. The South was then
unit. All were loyal and enthusiastic, and
the u,stter of Obtaining news from their lines
was O very dnfi cult one indeed. 10 the North
the South was sealed book, while they had
no difficulty in obtaining information OF al
our mos ements, and very: many of our plans,
Butin thefall ofiIS64 this condition of things
began to change, and was. very soon com.
pleteiy reversed. "The failing fortunes OF
the rebellion; now became apparent. Hith'
erto every one within the southern lines was
loyaa in action, word, and belief;ibu now
they saw the ship was sinking, and that no
power on earth could keep her clear. AS q
result very many people living in the South
began giving information to oEr armies.
Traders and storekeepers IN the towns and
villages readily lent their aid in furnishing
data of the movements of the Confedcrates,
and it was but q short tine until General
Grant. Through TIE Secret Service Bu-
reau, received almost daily reports Of the
amount OF fixed ammunition and nutlbef
of guns 10 and about Richmond, the amount
of provisions on hans and constantly being
received gia the canal and the railroads. end
what was being done at the Tredegar Iren-
Works. Beside this, General Sharp had a
complete roster Of LeeS army-so complete
that, as the speaker said, be would not have
cared to have it corrected by oEe of Lees
staff. Not q regiment or q battery could
pass through Richmond or Petersburg with.
out the fact Geing known at Grants bead
quarters in less than tweGt y-tOur hours. In
deed, so complete was this source Of Inform
alton that when the Confederate navy made
q last and most desperateaeffort to- get past
our distractions and War,Tessels in the Games
river the fact that the movement woEld be
made was known at City Point forty eight
hours before The rams and their tenders left
their mooriugs. This important piece Of
news, together with many others, was f.sr.
nished by clerk in the rebel Eavy Depaat.
ment.
AS the winter grew on it became less anG
less difficult to get Information, Gntil ct laA
cur army headquarters was about as we'll
posted 10 regard to the strength, resources.
aud movements of the energy as was General
Lee himself. These things were LOOKED upon
by General Grant as q sure Indication Of the
s1dden collapse of the Confederacy, aad he
planned his movements accordingly. The
whole South was dissatisfied ana heartily
sick Of the unequal contest, ind everything
pointed to its speedy TERMINATION.
Al this point General Sharp gave some eX.
ceeGiagly interesting accounts OF the minor
details and management of the secret ser.
vice. There were five stations between City
Point aud Richmond, and cipher dispatch
would be sent from one to the other by diff.
ferentmessengers to avoid exciting suspicion.
The principal agent in Richmond was
lady--the ape who now occupies the posi-.
aien of postRistress 81 that city. The speaker
gave graphic and very minute description
Of this lady, whom he considers one of the
sbsswdest and ssnartest women of the pres.
ent tge.
Besides the method just mentioned of get.
ting news to and from Richmond there was
still another agency. An old soldier, who
bad done duty many years as sergeant in
the regular army, but who was at this time
serving in the ranks of the Confederacy,
made overtures to our officers. He was very
timid at first, and would not enter the Union |
lines, SO General Sharp went to see him,
passing through the enemy pickets, and re.
naining among them some time. The old |
sergeant finally became one Of the Generals |
most trusted agents.
The Richmond papers came as regular az
,iock.work, and from them vast deal of
7ery valuable Information was cleaned. A
'ebel officer who had obtained leave OF
bseEce for the purpose of visiting bis home,
in Georgia, wrote letter to one
{ these papers detailing so account of his
rib home, stating that when he struck the
'iedmont railroad he. found 1t so over
vhelmed with carrying stores for the Con.
,derste army thst be could not get passage
b . train, and was therefore obliged to
ak distance OF forty-eight miles. This
aiGer. MSS quite humorous IN his dsscrtp- ]