The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-06-29


stain. Around the little lamb't OF Apo
mattox Courthouse Is gathered the Army
OF Northern Nirgnia-Icss than 5000 men
with arms IN their hands--less than $1,000
all told, counting camp-followers and
stragglers; and around them in massive
concentric lines the army Of Grant, flushed
with success and expectation. more thln
$4,000 strong upon the field, and with each
hour bringing up reiuforccments. "The
enyironed army, with n valor all Spartan.
stands ready TO die, not indeed I'm re-
spouse 10 civic laws denying surrender.
but obedient TO the lofty impulse OF
honor" Can they cut through Does
the dream OF saved Coniederacy
yet beckon them on beyond the
wall OF steel and fire that giriles
them? Can they find fighting-ground i'm
the Carolinas with Joseph 4. Johnston,
who amongst the first 20 meet the foe,
proves amongst the last TO leave him? Can
these dauntless foemen yet cleive a path TO
the inner country and renew the unequal
striiey Not till that hope Is tested will
they yield.
A. the day dawnS a remnant OF the en-
vary under Fitz. Lee is forming, and Cor
don's infantry, scarce 1000 strong, are
elbows for the last charge. Once more the
Virginia woods. and with all their wonted
ficrcenesS they fall upon Sheridan's men.
All. yes; victory still clings to the tattered
battle-ilags. Yes, the troopers OF our
gallant Fitz. are a. dauntless A. when they
followed the plume OF Stuart. Yes, the
mgtchlesS infantry OF Gathered uniforms
and bright musketsr move with as swift,
intrepid tread aS when Of old Stonewall
| led the way. Soldiers Of Manassas. OF
Richmond, Fredericksburg. Chancelors-
vile, Gettysburg, Of the Wilderness, OF
Sp0tsyyania. Of Cold IIarbor. OF Peters,
burg. scared and sinewy veterans OF fifty
fields. your glOries are still about you, your
manhood is triumphant It'll. NeS, the
blue lines break before them, two cannon
and many prisoners are taken. and FOR two
miles they sweep the field toward Lynch
burg-yictors still.
But no. Too late. Too late. Behind
the flying ,abrc- and rifles OF sheridan rise
the bayonets and frown The batteries 81 the
Army OF the James under ord. \ solid
phalanX stands right athwart The path OF
Fitz. Lee and Gordon'- men. Too latel
The die i cast The doom I, sealed.
There Is no escape, The eagle i. quaned
in hi, eyrie, the wounded lion is hunted TO
his lair.
And so the guns OF the last charge y
away in the morning air; and echo. like
the sob Of a mighty sea, roll, ~ the Valley
OF the james. and al j. still. The last fight
Of the Army OF Northern irginia has
been fought. The end had come.
The smoke vanished; the startled BIRDS
renewed their SONGS over the stricken
field; the battle smell was drowned in the
fragrance OF the lloWcry spring. and the
IL.
him stood there facing the dread reality,
more terrible than dcath--stood there 20
grapple with and face down despair; for
he had done ms all, and all WAS lost. SAFE
honor!
sUERE.nEG.
General Lee. dressed in hi, best uniform,
rides 10 the front 30 meet General GRAFT.
For several days oyerturcs for surrender
had been rejected, now surrender was in
eyltablc. ana the two commanding officers
meet nc the Mclean house 90 arrange It's
terms. The first and abiding thought 81
Lee was the honor OF ms men; for he had
determined TO "cut hi> way out az an
hazards, ii such terms were moi granted as
he thought his army was entitled 10 de-
mand." General said Lee, addressing
Grant. and opening the conversation, Il
deem it due 10. proper candor and frank
ness To say ut the very beginning OF this
interview that am not willing even TO dis
cuss any terms OF surrender inconsistent
with the honor Of my army, which am de-
| tcrmIned 70 maintain 10 the last Grant
! gave fitting and soldicrly response. and the
honorable terms demanded were agreed
to: " The officers 10 retain their side-arms,
private horses, and baggage" and "each
officer and man 10 be allowed - return to
his home" and, mark il, "HOt 10 be dis
ttubed bV inied NtdteS authority as tong
as hcV observe their pdrOie and the ialcS
in force ,cdere they reside.'
Thus at last was the liberty OF the SOL
der purchased with his blood.
And so the Army OF Northern Virginia,
never broken i'm battle, passed from action
into history; SO. il persisted by the flashing
OF the guns, while victory hung. charmed,
to it, tlag and threw upon it, tomb the
immortelles Of honor.
The old order cl3nsetn, Welding place to new,
And God fulhls Himself M many ways"
FAREWELL.
" Wen, IRE hare fought hroHgh the ,rdr
together: I hare dome my best tor you:
NJ heart IS too jul 10 say MORE" was
Lees uttcance 10 the ragged. hatto-be-
grimcd boys in gray, who. when the dread
news OF surrender spread amongst them,
gathered ground him 10 shake his band
and testify their uudying confidence and
love. In his published address he said to
them: &" You will carry with you the -atis-
faction that proceeds from the conscious
mes, OF duty faithfully performed, and
earnestly pray that merclful God will eN-
tend Il YOU His blessing and protection.
With an unccasng admiration OF your con-
>tancy and devotion 10 Your country. and
a grateful remembrance 81 your kind and
generous consideration OF myself, | bid
You an aflcciiOnate farewell
A. Robert Lee rode from AppOmattoN
toward Richmond he carried with him the
hear, Of every man that had fought under
10 bin with hooks Of steel
forever. When he reached the fallen capi-
tai OF tine dead Conicdcracy. and rode
through it, ashes and paling fires 10 his
home. body OF Federal soldiers there.
catching a glimpse OF his noble cOunte-
nance, lifted thoir hats and chcered, and
as the great actor i'm the bloody drama
stepped behind the scenes, and the curtain
fell upon the tragic stage of the secession
war, the last sounds that greeted his ear
were the generous salutltiOn> 81 respect
from those against whom he had welded
his nightly sword.
RETIREMENT-COUNsRL AND ACCEPTANCE or
THE SITUATION.
Had the paroled soldier Of AppomattoN
carried 10 retirement the yeXed spirit and
hollow heart OF ruined gamester, no.
thing had remained TO him but 10
drain the drcgs OF disappointed
career. But there went with HIM that
consciousness Of duty faithfully per-
formed" which consoles every rebuii Of
fortune, >weetens every sorrow, and tenn
pers every calamity. And now it was that
be proved indeed what he once expressed
in lngunge-that &" human fortitude should
be equal TO human adversely" once on