The New York herald., 1876-01-21
LAST HOURS OF THE coNFEDERACY.
WHAT GENERAL GEORGE H. SHARP KNOWS or
TILE nEl.r I>.r Avn rAII or TILE RERELIInN

WHAT GENERAL GEORGE H. SHARP KNOWS or
THE DECLINE AND FALL OF THE REBELLION.
General George H. Sharp. Surveyor Of the Port OF
New York delivered lecture last evening In the Har
lem Congregational church 'The Last Hours OF tho
Confederacy." Il is doubtful II there is another
man in the whole country we'll qualified TO speak
upon this subject General sharp Serving upon
General Grants staff from tho time that onncer as
sumed command of the armies OF the United States
until the surrender OF the Army OF Northern Virginia.
having exclusive management OF the secret service
branch OF tho army and being witha keen observer,
General Sharp knows OF the last struggles Of the
Southern Confederacy than any either North OF
South.
His lecturc'last evening was replete with highly In
torestng historical facts and personal "reminiscences
beginning with what he termed the failing fortunes OF
tho Conederacy the speaker said that 1t not until
thswinter of 1864 C5 that the Northern commanders
were at all accurately informed of the POSITION strength
and resources of the enemy AT the commencement
OF the struggle the Confederate War Office knew the
number and strength OF every regiment that marched
through Washington in less than thlrysx hours aftei
lis arrival al the capital The South then unit
All were loyal and enthusiastic and the matter OF OBJ
aainnG news IRON their lines a very difficult
sindeed. To the North the South was a scaled book
while they had no difficulty obtaining information OF
tho fall of 1864 this condition of thngs
began to change and was very soon com.
pctey reversed. "The failing fortunes OF tho
.rebclon' now became apparent. Hitherto every one
within tho Southern lines loyal in action word
and belief; but now they saw the ship sinking
and that no power on earth could keep her clear AS
result very many people living IN tho south began
giving information to our armies Traders and
keepers the towns and villages readily lent their aid
furnishing data OF the movements OF tho Confeder-
aes, and but short time until General Grant,
through tho Secret Service Bureau, received almost
daily reports of the amount OF liked ammunition and
number OF guns III and about Richmond the amount
OF provisions Oh hand and constantly being received
via the canal and the railroads and what was beng done
the Trcdegar Iron Works Beside this General Sharp
had complete roster OF Lees army-so complete that,
the speaker said he woud have cared have Il
corrected by Of Lees staff Not regiment
battery could pass through Richmond or Petersburg
without the fact being known at Grants headquarters
In less than twenty -four hours. Indeed, complete
this source of Information that when the Confed
crate navy made aast and most desperate effort TO get
past our distractions and vessels IN the James
River, the fact that the movement would be made
known at City Point foryeight hours before the
and their tenders left their moorings This important
piece OF news, together with many others was fur
nished by clerk in the rebel Navy Department:
AS tho winter grew became less and less dcult
TO get Information, uu at last army headquarters
was about well posted in regard to the strength
sources and movements OF the enemy as was General
Lee himself These things were looked upon by Gen,
cra Grant as sure indication OF the sudden collapse OF
cordingly. The whole South dissatisfied and
heartily sick OF the unequal contest and everything
pointed to its speedy termination.
AT this point General Sharp gave some exceedingly
interesting accounts OF tho minor details and manage
ment of the secret service There i've stations be-
tween City Point and Richmond and cipher despatch
would be sent from to the other by different mes.
scngcrs TO avoid exciting suspicion. Tho principal
agent in Richmond was n lady, the who
cupies the position of Postmstress of that city. The
speaker gave graphic and very minute description OF
this lady whom he considers one of tho shrewdcst and
smartcst women of tho present age.
Besides the method Just mentioned OF getting ncwa
to and from Richmond there was stu another agency
N Old Her trh nd ae
sergeant the regular army, but who was at this time
serving in the ranks OF the Confcdcracy made over
lures to our officers. lie was very timd at first and
would not enter the Union lines, SO General sharp
went to see hun, passing through the enemys pckcis
and remaining among them somc time The old SER
gcant finally became one Of the Generals most trusted
agents.
The Richmond papers regular
clockwork, and from them vast deal OF
very valuable information CLEANED. rebel
officer who had obtained leave OF absence Tor
the purpose of visiting his homc somewhere in Geor-
ga, wrote letter to one OF these papers detailing
count Of his trip home, stating that when he struck
the Piedmont Railroad he found II SO overwhelmed
with carrying stores for tho Confederate army that he
could not get passage tram and was, therefore,
obliged to walk a distance OF forty eight miles This
officer was quite humorous in his descriptions, and
doubtless thought he was dong a very funny thing
but the military Information contained in his letter
governed TO great the subsequent movements
of General Grant-the movements that resulted in the
overthrow OF General Lee
Passing from this branch Of the subject General
Sharp turned his attention TO 'thc closing scenes Of
the rcbcllion," beginning with Lees suicidal move
against and capture OF Fort Steadman. Lee learned
that Grant preparing early in March, while
other Union commander had ever dared to attempt
a before May. He wished to make Grant believe
that the Confederate army stronger and
vigorous than he had supposed and to this end two
brgades hurled against Fort Stendman and-wers
captured. Then came the assault the eLtre rebel
line, tho movement by Sheridan the
left and the turning Of Lees right, the cap
ture OF Richmond and Petersburg the flight Of
Lee and the hurried pursuit Near Burksville Ewels
command, consisting OF general officers and 5000
captured. OF scene In connection with this
capture the speaker gave very graphic and interest
ing account showing how General Ewcll forgot the dg
nifty OF his position. rebuked by hun he speaker)
and subsequently, by of his division commanders
General Kershaw, of South Carolina. In conclusion,
account given Of the surrender OF Lee which
CURED in large room and not under apple treo,
and how every loyal heart bounded when the 400 guns
captured from the enemy were made to belch forth
grand sa lutte that shook the very heavenA
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CHRYSOSTOM