The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1879-10-10
Appomattox.

H. e. 81. sends the Boston Herald
the following incident, as related to him
by gentleman who was attached to the
headquarters of General Lee in the
capacity of Chief Medical Purveyor of
the Army of Northern Virginia:
The remnant of the once proud army
of Northern Virginia, worn out with the
incessant fatigue and privations Incl
dental to their late retreat from Peters
burg, lay resting under the shade of the
trees in the neighborhood of the now
famous Appomattox Court House, anx-
iously awaiting the return of their much
loved chieftain, who, some hours previ-
ously, had gone over to the headquarters
of the Union army to arrange with Gen
eral Grant for the capitulation of the
Southern forces under his command.
There they lay, the heroes of many a
hard fought battle, thinking over the
momentous events of the past four years,
realizing that their labor had been in
vain, that their sufferings and sacrifices
were to count as nought, and looking
with blank dismay into the unpromising
future. A shout is heard, the s1rebel
yell" rings out once more, and for the
last time the crowd rushes to the road
side to welcome back their venerable
commander They call upon him for q
speech. Slowly and sadly turning
toward them, he replies, 'sI have not to-
day the heart to make you speech.
have turned over the army to General
Grant. You will all be allowed to return
to your homes, and hope you will be
happy there" Dismounting from his
horse, he remained for some time stand
ing under neighboring tree. His off
GERS, intermingled with men from
the ranks, grouped themselves
around him. Some of these
| were gray haired men, others mere
boys. One youth, apparently not more
than fifteen, a courier attached to one O.
| the headquarters, with eyes intently
fixed upon his aged commander, had
sunk upon one knee to rest himself, an6
thus unconsciously assumed an titud.
of silent alteration, the whole forming 1
picturesque group. Few words wer,
spoken. Silently they looked upon th'
man whom they had learned to love ant
venerate, and with whom they were sool
to part forever. The moment was sac
and solemn. Few eyes were dry, ant
down the cheeks of Lee himself tear
| tTdVolcu uuISpISSSeu, lOT uO OuO III bIld
party cared, or even thought of conceal
ing the great grief that oppressed thei
manly hearts. The setting sun shon
full upon them, lingering, as it were, t.
bid farewell to the heroic army it hat
lighted through many hard-fough
field, and upon whom the fates had de
creed that it should never shine again.
The following anecdote illustrates tn
dislike with which General Lee alway
regarded any departure from the rigi'
simplicity which characterized the lif
at his headquarters: One of the In
spector Generals, Colonel Murray, wa
quite advanced in life, and some friends
wishing to contribute to his comfort, ha.
presented him with cushioned cam
chair. Tents had been struck, and th
baggage all packed in the wagons, pre-
paratory to starting on the days march
all except the cushioned chair, in whic
the Colonel sat, waiting to join the Ger
eral as he passed. A few moments late
General Lee rode up, regarded tn
Colonel for a moment, and then quietl
remarked: ''Colonel Murray, I woul
advise you, the next time we start on
campaign, to bring your center tabl
with you" It is needless to say this
that chair was never seen again at th
army headquarters.
|