The Republican journal., 1882-06-08
90.
Sketches of Army Life.
SECOND SERIES. NUMBER TEN.
LEES SURRENDER.

LEE ) SIRREN DER.
The 18th day of April, 1865, was a memor-
able one to the First Division of the old Fifth
Army Corps. for upon that day the army of
General Lee stacked its arms. and the above
named division was the one designated by Gen.
Grant to receive the surrender The morning
dawned clear and warm. AT an early hour the
regiments were prepared to fall into line. Ma
jor General J. l.. Chamberlain was in command
of the division. Before nine o'clock the troops
Were in line. our brigade, consisting of nine old
regiments. being in the advance. AnXiousIy we
waited for the appearance of the rebel army.
Soon we saw gray column of troops advancing
through the valley at our right 4 thrill of cX-
citcment ran along the line and cXclamations like
the following There they are, ""The Johnnics
are coming" The Confederacv has found its
last ditch" Were whispered among the men.
Before their advanced line reached our column.
every man was in his proper position, and we
stood like 4 blue wall at shoulder arms.
as they marched in our front. There was 4
space of some four rods between u.s. Wher
their column had advanced the length Of our
line they halted. ''front faced" and there we
with only that narrow space between us. Our
commander, with the true courtesy Of chiNal-
rou> spirit, gave the command present arms"
| and we thus >autcd our fallen enemies They
returned the salute Then ..ordercd arms"
'iNed bayonrtS, ''Stacked arms, placed their
cuior> and equipments Upon the stacks thus
made. Then moved by the right flank = and
,l.fl ll,- |
went until all that remained Of the grand Old
army of northern Nirrcuia had stacked their
arms. We had 4 most exc, llrnt opportunity to
review these Southern troops and notice their
peculiar traits. As rule they We're tall, thin
spare men, with long hair and beard of Il tawny
red color They We're all clad in the uniform
of southern gray: nearly all were very ragged
| and dirty. And the broad brimmed, ,louchng
@lay hats gave them anything but a soldierv
appearance. 4 little fellow on my left seeing
how thin and lean they We're, muttertd. NO
wonder we didn't Kill more of them: either one
of them would split 4 mimic ball if it should
strike him." Some of the brigadcs seemed to
b, we'll diSciplincD. and marched in very COM
men,table manner General Longstrret'> corps
| any in thc army, while many of the regiments
and briSa,!e~ in aS irregular 4 manner As it they
had never been drilled for 4 Single hour. Their
arms We're Of all designs and patterns, many of
them Were Of English make. and had been
doubtless smu@glcd through the blockade by
| the English blockade runners. Til, roors We're
| all stained by storm and many OF them torn to
| slrred>. some We're elegantly mounted upon
richly ornumcntcd statl>, while others were
fastened to rough poles. Itwa> quite an affect
| ing scene to some Of the various color guards
| As they We're about to leave the Old flags they
had carried 50 long and defended 50 braycly.
turn and tear small piece, from the old banner
and hastily put them in their pockets As if fear
ing our officer, Would forbid them doing it il
| they saw them. Many a brave Southern soldier
turned that day with fearful eyes from the old
they had sacrificed SO much. No conyer-
>aton was allowed between the two armies
a. The surrender Wa~ being made. but oce;-
! sionally il pleasant word would bp exchanged.
| one division flat We had encountered On
several different fields of battle, halted in our
| 'front.' and is they We're stacking their arms they
! learned what division we belonged to, and one
Of them cried n iocosc manner: swell, old
fellows, We have met you again" And thus
the day passed until they had lll surrendered.
We had received Them with every courtc> y
that could possibly be extended by Victorious
army, and With Single exception not an UNI
rjNil word had been spoken 10 amy officer or
private in the whole armv-uot 4 single word
Of net that could a,ld TO tie humiliation of THEN
position. That single exception was this: 4
Brir1}icr General camr ri,Iino i'm at the hcaJ ot
his brigade and attracted the attention of all
liz was Il small. thin man with 4 red face and
! ,hriIl. sharp yoi.r Thr uoint Of ,tt1ortinn WA.
that his uniform wa all Of tht confederate coIol
with thc execution of his coat. which was thc
Union bIur ,urh \. was worn hy our own of.
ticcrs. lie rod,, a larre. powerful horse. and
| looked like a GRIM >ourcd passionate man. w,
uuirkN detected Tie fact that hc WIZ, not adj
mircu IN Ills men, rhpy halted in our front
ana Til. officer cave Inc urcrs.ar, orders +,
have placed them in the proper position 10 r,.
ccivr our salute. But their lines were. not
dressed up" rs promptly Il, he, dr>irrd and
with much profanity he abused tine men to1
brin,r ~ t.r,iy H th,.ir indictments ftnaujun
th4y ma bnrnr much of thi. FROM lin, b..fnrr
but thcy now remembered that the war was
over. and that the power of hi, authority wa,
broken. and iir,. flashed from their ewes in rr.
sponsr as several of them in Il most tuunt.
inc manner replied To Him, 20 YES. v0u az,
brave enough nov-. but vou MA, never SO mean
| the Yauk, before in yOur lifr" And will
this greeting, TO which he could moi we'll rcph
he rod. to thr ri,bt of his command Who i,
hc> ULotxL,l = hundred of th,. ,.urious Yankee.
| hastily asked. General Henry 4. Wise. th,1
answered. for Il moment ~. could hardly
comprchrnd thr tllth. We thought Of BRAY,
ola John brown ana U,rn.r, Ferry. OF IN,
imprriou> Governor of tb. old Dominion thai
had ordered his execution. And here. WAS tn,
same old General s,,rrrudrrjun hi, command +,
=, Y.nE,. ,r,,,v IN, ,uiIly NJ the i,a,S mn,
Grind slnvIy I'M u>ually th, yynrl, i ,Inn,. 81
fnrtu,IIv Pm n,,r mem rnuII nnt I,t tI,r. .or,nr
|