Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1880-11-09
MIs cEllAMEous.
GEN. LEES SURRENDER.


tJOhn Esten Cooke in Philu. Weekly Tinos.1
On the morning of April 2, 1865. it was
obvious that something quite out of tho or.
dinary routine had happened, ard rode 10
the direction of Gen. Lees headouarter.
which were at house about mile vost Of
Petersburg. The scene here was bustlin,
and full of excitement. Copriers were PASS.
ing to and fro across the fields carving or.
ders, and the black smoke mentioned was
seen to rise from burning house toward
the outer works, near which was caught the
gI0am OF Federal bayoncts. They had broken
the lines there, captured the forts, and were
rapidly advancing, apparently to attack
Gen. Lees slight inner works directly in the
suburbs of Petersburg.
| was very much struck with his calmness
on this trying occasion, and have often re.
menIbered 1t since a remarkable proof of
the extraordinary coolncss aud eouipoise of
his character. He was standing in tho n;ds,
of group of rfficers on tho lawn of the
house in which ne had his headouarters
looking through his fiell elasscs at a Federal
brigade or division advancing at a douhIa-
quick to charge battery posted on knoll
about three hundred yards to the right of
the house His face was entirely composed
and rothlns in his appearance indicated
HAVING n
friend in the group of off icers if he oould
inform me whore I could end Gen Pendle,
ton, Chief of Artillery. Gen Lee, henrinc
the question, turned round quietly raised
his hat in roturn for my own salute. and
told mo in mild voice what wished to
know. In a few minutes tho Federal infan,
try at which he had been looking charged
the guns on the knoll, which came off under
het musket fire, and Gen. Ice. indino
that he was in danger of capture. mounted
his gray and rode back slowly toward the
town. As he was surrounded by consi1
ernbie number of officers the group attracted
the attention of the enemy and they opened
hro on it. Ono OF tho shells killed the horse
OF an-oficcr within few feet Of me and Gu.
the bride rcius of others, aud n second shell
exploded directly behind Gen Ice. within
few feet, it seemed, Of his back, but with,
out hurting him. His escape was remarka>
bic, as the fragments Of the she'll raised the
DUST around him like shower of mu,ket
balls and tho inci1eut seemed to excite him
Tor the first time. His faco had boon quito
composed up to this time, but suddenly
flushed with anger. Ho turned his head
over his right shoulder and looked at tho
Federal guns with the expression of a nan
who wou d like to charge them. He grew
calm in a lew moments, however, and saving
to an othcer in a matter of fact voice. 'This
is bad business, Colonel " rode on still nm.
der the fire of the shell. at n slow pace. 10
the lower inner works manned by a thin line
of infantry.
On tho morning Of what rhetorical
writer would be apt t" call the ''fatal day. !"
l rode up to Apponattox Courthou-a. which
is village on a hill. with the natural curl
os'ty to find what was going to take place. 1t
was certain that the events of this foreman
would decide everything, as Appomn,tox
was, IN military phrase, the '"defiIe" through
which the Contederatcs must pass to their
safety or destruction. A heavy Federal
force, whether infantry or cavalry was not
kuown, were in front, and the decisive mo-
ment had come. If it was only cavalry it
was tolerably sure that man like Gordon,
at the head Of his Eve thousand veterans,
would make short work of them; but if the
Federal infantry was up in heavy force ii
was quite as certain that it would make short
work of Gordon. he had advanced consid,
erably beyond the Courthouze, and there
were no troops in the village at the moment
when entered il and rode on There were
traces of an engagement, however. on the
night before, and have often thought since
OF trlhing circumstance. if it may be called
such. which attracted my attention The dead
body OF young artillery officer was living in
the road up the hill. few weeks before he
had sent in hi. application for months fur
Tough to go and zee his wife. who was dan.
gerously ill, and though a general order d.
rected that no leaves whatever should be
granted. had forwarded his application IN
Col Tay'cr. chief Of staff. esliing his a,.en.
t'oH' to the case. He gave the young officer
ten days. and he duly went and returned and
was now dead
SCENES AT APPoMATTox.
Gordon carried out his orders aud made a
sudden attack on the force in his front-one
OF his old reckless assaults " hich on so raanv
occasions during the latter months of the
war had swert everything before them
There was general conviction in the army
that Gordon could be counted en- to efec.
anything thst was not absolutely impossible;
but he had met here with the impossible
! The force of Infantry and cavalry in his front
| was quite overpowering. He first attacked
| Gen SheridaR's cavalry and drove it con-
| siderable distance. bnt then he came on the
| infantry and could do nothing further and
| fell back. The result was that General Lee
sent flag to Gen. Grant with view to sur
render his army, aud soon afterwards went
to AppOmattOx Courthouse to meet him
| there.
These events occurred quite rapidly, and
the vicinity of the vilisge had become a
| scene of deep interest, though it could hard
| ly be called one of excitement. There was
no "noise and confusion" and Longstreet's
/ small corps Of two or three thoussDd men