Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1883-03-05
THE SURRENDER OF LEE.
Gen. J. L. Chamberlain of Maine,


the officer who was designated by Gen.
Grant to receive the surrender of
Lees army, recently described the
scene in a lecture in Memorial hall,
Bowdoin college. The Brunswick
Telegraph furnishes brief report of
his address, as follows:
On the evening before the great
question was to be tried we prepared
to break camp before the dawn.
The enemy was in a hopeless condi-
tion, their right smashed, their Gen.
ter pierced, their strong works in
front lost, their principle line of CON-
munication cut, Petersburgh in our
possession, the fall of their capitol
inevitable. The campaign lasted
twelve days only. The skirmishing
all day and the marching all night,
and then on the last three days the
racing and pursuit greatly wearied
our men. The only hope of the enc
my was to push westerly by a path
way that led them along the south of
the Appomattox river. That path
way was crossed by many streams,
and as they rushed along it was only
to find at every crossing some hot
vanguard. It was the last night of
the pursuit. Sheridan, who was just
a little way ahead, had sent back
word that he was close upon the enc
my and likely to strike him at any
moment, and asked us to make about
eight miles more than the hard days
march, that we might keep up with
his cavalry. 1t was blacklist mid
night when, with flushed faces and
aching limbs, we reached the goal.
Down we lay there in our blankets
supperless fevered by the heat of
march, then chilled by the dews of
the Virginia spring. Scarcely had
the first broken sleep begun when a
mounted officer splashed down the
down the road, bearing in his hand
note from Sheridan: ''If you can
possibly push out your infantry to-
night we will have great results in the
morning.
Almost before the lingering echoes
of the ''halt" have died away, the
tired brain of the dreamer hears the
bugle note. The horses are hurried
up. The men form in short ranks.
In three hours we have reached APP
pomattox station. Already we can
hear the sharp ring of the hoarse ar
tillery drowned by the surly roar of
the rebel guns. There is no mistake.
Sheridan is square across the rebel
retreat, and with that glorious caval-
| ry alone. in which our first Maine
was in the very front, he was holding
at bay all that was left of the proud
est arm of the confederacy. Sud-
denly an officer of Sheridan appears
and delivers this message: "Sir,
Gen. Sheridan wishes you to draw off
two columns and come to his support.
The rebel infantry is pressing him
hard, and likely to drive him from
the field" Such CHANGED to be my
own order.
Breaking from the woods we soon
catch sight of Sheridan's banner.
Beneath it sat that calm yet head
strong man, mounted on the fiery
steed that had turned the battle of
the Shenandoah. In full view of US
our cavalry was gallantly stemming
the fire of the Stonewall jackson
corps. We wheel into line of battle.
Every arm of the service was in full
play. On one side the line rolled
back on the other pressed irresisti.
bly, on. AS the battle took shape we
became the extreme right of a semi
circle enveloping Lee. Meantime
the other corps of infantry were com
ing up and forming sort of semi
circle. Coming up on the rebel real
are the Second, Sixth and Nintl
corps of our army, and unless the,
can break through us within hal
an hour all is lost by them. Th,
rebel batteries are drawn off from tn,
crest, and they take their groun(
near the court house of the littl,
hamlet called Appomattox. W.
press forward on the south side. Th
die is cast. We hear the rattle O
our light artillery coming up behind
and we catch glimpses of Sheridan
closing on the foe. We dash OF
over swamp and stream. All is ex
citement. Soon two horsemen com
galloping out from the rebel line, on
of them waving a flag of tluce.
The aide makes his graceful salu
tation and delivers his message, "Gen
Longstreet desires cessation o
|
hostilities until he can hear fror
! Gen. Lee as to proposal of SUI
render" Meanwhile, of course, W
still advance. We have no orders t
! halt, but the firing slackens on bot
sides. In moment comes the orde
to cease firing and to halt. A true
! is agreed upon till O'Clock in th
afternoon. Four O. clock comes. n
: word from Lee and Grant is heard
so what have we to do after this br
to resume hostilities? The orde
: came: prepare to make or receiv
an attack in ten minutes" We pus
forward our skirmish lines; but LIE
: and Grant had come. The final al
swer is not long coming now. Th