The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1883-07-12

my finances l couldn't buy two shingles
If hull Opera-houses were sellin' for ten
cents apiece. sah."
Gen. Sheridan ON Lees Surren<
der.
The seccondh1ticle in the NorthlAmer-
lean Review this month is ''The Last
Days of the Rebellion" by Gen. P. H.
Sheridan. Gen. Sheridon writes of
events which occurred in the Virginia
campaign between Appll 4, 1865 and
the scene at Appomattox court house
on April f.. On the morning Of the sth
he says that "happiness'' was in every
heart. Our long and weary labors were
about to close, our dangers soon to end.
There was no sleep; there had been but
little for the previous eight or nine
DAYS. Before sunrise Gen. Ord came in,
reporting the near approach of the COM
mand. After q hasty consultation about
positions to be taken up by the incom-
ING troops we were in the saddle and of
Tor the front in the vicinity of the Ap-
pomattox courthouse" Finally they
reached a point opposite that place, and
where; below them sin a low valley, lay
Lee and the remnant Of his army,
With one or two EXCEPTIONS; there did
no: appear to be much organization I'll
the enemy, SO that formations were
Immediately commenced to make bold
and sweeping charge down the grassy
slope, with an aide-de-camp from Custer
filled with excitement, hat in hand,
dashed up to me with the message from
ms chief: Lee has surrendered; do not
~ ~ ~r,hs<~. Ao- 20 IMP nn6oH 20
were then given to cor, pleteethe forshs-
ton, but not to charge. AS they up
preached the court house, however, q
heavy fire was opened on them from
skirt of timber to the right, and even
when within 100 or $50 yards OF the
court house some of the men in the con-
federate lines brought down their
guns to aim at the Union men, and
"great effort was made by their officers
to keep them from firing" Gen. J. B.
Gordon, when finally met, seemed to be
somewhat Disconnected by the firing that
had taken places. '.:.:. =: I: ="
II remarked to him: Gen. Gordon,
your men fired on me as 1 was coming
over here, and undoubtedly they have
done the same to Merritt's and Clusters
commands. We might just as we'll let
them fight it OUT To this proposition
Gen. Gordon did not accede. l then
asked: why not send a staff officer to
and have your people cease firing?
They are violating the f'agp He said: 7
have MD statf officer tn send; l replied;
i will let you have one. of: mine,' .eEd
calling for Lieut. Vanderbilt Allen, he
was directed to report to Gen. Gordon
to 60 to Gen. Geary, who was in COM
mo nj ofo ooo1l 1,ri Of So,nkh Tsorn
lima cavalry, and ask him to discontinue
the firing. Lieut.. Allen dashed of with
the message, but, on delivering it to
Gen. Geary, was taken prisoner, with
the remark from that officer that South
Carolinians never surrendered.
OF the actual surrender of Lee later in
the day, negotiations looking to which
had been going on for day and night
Gen. Sheridan says:
"In the meantime, Gen. Lee came
| over to McLean's house in the village
of-ppomattox Court house. am not
certain whether Gen. Babcock, of Gen.
Grants staff, who had arrived in ad-
| vance of the General, had gone over to-
see him or not. We had waited .s0tt1e
hours, and, think, about II OF O'clock
Gen. Grant arrived. Gen. Ord. myself;
and MANY officers were in the main road
leading through the town. at a point
where Lees army was visible. Gen.
Sheridan, how are you? I replied, Il
Where is Lee?' replied, There in his
army down in that valley; he is o yer in
that house, (pointing out McLean's,)
waiting to surrender to you Gen. Grant
| still dismounting, said, Come. let us 20
over He then made the same request
tn Gen. Ord, and we all went to Nc
Leans house. Those who entered with
Gen. Grant, were, as nearly as I can re-
collect, Ord. Rawlins. Seth Williams. In
gals, Babcock, Parker, and myself; the
staff officers, or those who accompanied,
remaining outside on the porch steps
and in the yard: On entering the parlor
we found Gen. Lee standing
in company with Col. Mar
shall. his aide-de-camp. The first
greeting was to Gen. Seth Williams. who
had been Lees Adjutant when he was
Superintendent of the Military Acad-
envy Gen: Lee was then presented to
Gen. Grant. and all present were in.
troduced. Gen. Lee was dressed in a
new gray uniform, evidently put on for
the occasion, and wore q handsome
sword. He had on his face the express
ion of relief from heavy burden. Gen.
Grants uniform was soiled with mud and
service, and he wore no sword. After a
few words had been spoken by those
who knew Gen. Lee, all the officers re-
tired except, perhaps, one staff officer of
Gen. Grants and the one who was With
Gen. Lee. We had not been absent more
than five minutes when Gen. Babcock
came to the door and said. ''The sur
render has taken place-you can come
in again." When We re-entered Gen.
Grant was writing on q little wooden,
elliptical-shaped table(purchased by me
fr0mMr. Mclean and presented to Mrs.
G. A. Custer]the conditions of the sur
render. Gen. Lee was sitting, his hand
resting on the hilt of his sword, to the
left Of Gen. Grant, with his back to q
lna ll marble topped table, on which
many books were piled.* About
one hour was occupied in drawing MP
ana signing the terms. when Gen. Leo
retired from the house with cordial
shake of the hand with Gen. Grant,
mounted his chunky, grey horse, and
lifting his hat, passed through the gate,
and rode over the crest of the hill to hin
army. On his arrival there, We heard
wild cheering, which seemed TO be
taken up progressively by his troops,
either for him, or because of the salts.
faction with bis Last official act q . sol
der"
Mr.. John B. Couch is suffering fr ,m
. humor which has affected his hands
so that he canaot use pen. Otherwise
his health Is good. and he exp ects soop
to hs rid Of the local ailment.