The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-12-07
THE SURRENDER OF LEE
A Confederate Army Chaplain Describes the
Scene.

gleam of light showed itself in the east.
Early's old division, composed of two North
Carolina brigades and one from Virginia, took
the front under Brigadier-general Walker.
Fighting was expected. The confederate
sharpshooters, which always composed the
skirmish line, had scarcely passed the court
house, which is but a small village, when
they came in contact with the federal pick
cts. A lively fusillade ensued. The line OF
battle was quickly formed, under the eye OF
General Gordon. The battle soon became
furious. The first line OF the federal troops
was broken and driven back with loss. L
was sitting upon a bank by the road
side noting events in my diary, when, at $50
o'clock, two batteries captured OF federal ar
tillery eight guns) were driven by me, going
to the rear. IN a few moments the hire IN
the front ceased. and l could discover our
troops falling back and taking up new posi-
tons by brigades to the rear.
At the same time a white flag, borne by a
couple of federal officers at full speed, came
out from the courthouse, and went to- the
rear and met General Lee, where our bag
gage-wagons were packed at the commence
ment of the action. In a few minutes
another white flag, borne by a couple of con-
federate officers, was dispatched to the court
house. The road was quickly cleared OF
every obstruction, and guards placed along
1t to keep everybody out of it, that the flag
be arers might pass from one point to the
OtHeF dG Iull Speeu- Az tnIS perlOu the eA-
among the confederate troops be-
came intense, as it was we'll understood the
confederate army was on the point OF being
surrendered.
Many seemed anxious to be led forward to
conquer or die on the field. Desperation
seemed to take hold on the men, or else men
were overcome by desperation. l quickly
resolved that l would not be included in the
surrender, and formed a plan with a choice
spirit to escape from the field and take care
of myself. One o'clock P. M. was the hour at
which l was to strike for liberty or safety.
Unwilling to act covertly in the matter, at
II o'clock NJ. l went to my brigade COM
mander, told him the plan l had formed and
asked him if he thought such a step on my
part would compromise my honor in the
brigade. He replied: considering the re-
lation you sustain to your regiment, l think
you would better maintain your honor by
abiding its fate" His answer subdued me,
and at once 1 abandoned my plan of escape.
But numbers did escape, and in no case
did l hear of a failure on the part of any who
made the attempt. The first flag from Gen.
Grant to Gen. Lee came at $50 o'clock A. NJ,
by my watch. These flags continued to pass
and repass until 4 P. NJ. History often repre-
sents things strangely. History gives Gen.
Grants first note on this day to Gen. Lee at
1890 P. NJ, when / have no doubt Gen. Lee
received Gen. Grants first note at $50 A. NJ.
Will some one better skilled in history than
1 am give us a solution of this difficulty?
The morning had been bright and fair. By
noon dark and gloomy clouds had gathered
over the whole face of the sky. All nature
around us seemed to harmonic with our
feelings! Sadness and gloom was impressed
upon all things, both animate and inanimate.
Men were growing desperate; officers were
breaking their swords in pieces to avoid the
dishonor of surrendering them. Maj.-gen. G.
W. Pickett, who had led the storming column
on the third day at Gettysburg, tore up his
flag and wore it around his shoulders. Men
have feelings. They cannot control these
feelings at all times and under
all circumstances Ny brigade sur
geon came to me and urged me to
preach a discourse to the troops. 1, too, had
feelings, and declined what 1 could only re-
gard as q duty. My weight OF feeling was too
powerful to undertake it.
At 4:20 P. N. the Second army corps was
formed in close column to hear the terms of
surrender. We were addressed by General
Gordon, who sat upon his horse in front, with
his hat in his hand, in the most moving and
impressive speech to which l have ever lis
tened. Circumstances gave it force and char
acter. During its delivery men could be seen
death on many fields, and had fought
with manly tirmnes from Bull
Run to Appomattox, were breaking
dowu under the force of that terrible, word
surrender. But the brave can weep as well
as fight for their country. Upon going to
the division ordnance wagons l found the
Lieutenant-commander weeping like a child.
Addressing ME. he said: II have fought the
Yankees from the beginning until now, and
to surrender to them is more than L can
bear. 1t seems like it will break nv heart"
Hope was dead. The grave was ready. Its
funeral solemnities were too weighty for the
brave.
NIL ooz DIT r,6oA o~;-L4 GIL
stealing as took place 1 never heard or read
of before. 1t seemed hat everything that
could be stolen was stolen. Just before the
sun went down a subaltern of the Quarter
masters Department, whose condition be-
spoke an excess of whisky, stepped up to me,
and with much earnestness said: II tell
you, Mr.. p, the C~onfederacy is gone up.
Now, JEFF. Davis owes you and me a pretty
good sum of money. Suppose that as soon
as it gets dark, we go to the wagons, get a
horse apiece, and strike out for home. If
we don't do that we will never get a cent"
/ had to decline the offer of my would-be
friend.
On the next day I bought a horse for 81, a
bride for So, and a saddle for $50. Ny one-
dollar steed would have borne, with the ex-
ception of his eyes, some resemblance to the
charger ridden by the Knight of La Mancha.
On the afternoon Of Tuesday, the 18th, our
parole papers were as ready, and
were all Only signed, and by the terms OF
surrender we were permitted to go
home. On Wednesday morning the
confederate army was to stack arms.
AT sunrise the Second army corps was pa
raded for the last time. Early's division, led
by General Walker, took the front. He rode
one O" the finest horses 1 saw in the whole
army, and placed himself in the march at
the head of the division. My place was in
the rear OF my brigade with the surgeon.
But we were now passing under the yoke"
and / had become infected with the demoral-
ization so prevalent. 1 fell in just behind
Gen. Walker upon my one-dollar horse, no
man saying yea or nay. The march was as
solemn as a funeral procession. Not a man
spoke a word. The federal army, at least a por-
ton of ii, was drawn up between our camp and
the courthouse upon our left, about forty
stems from the road and stood at order al ms