Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1883-02-22
THE LAST DITCH.
A Graphic Description OF the Closing Scenes OF
the Great War, by Gen. Chamberlain.


A Graphic Description Of the Closing Scenes Of
the Great War. by Gen. Chamberlain.
Gen j. l.. Chamberlain, of Maine.
the officer who was designated by Gen.
Grant 10 receive the surrender OF Lees
army, recently described the scene in a
lecture in Memorial Hail, Bowdoin Col
lege. The Brunswick Telegraph fur
nishes brief report of his address, as
follows:
On the evening before the great ques-
ton was TO be tried we prepared to
break camp before the dawn. The en-
envy was in hopeless condition-their
right smashed, their centre pierced
their strong works in front lost, their
principal line OF communication cut,
Petersburg in cur possession, the fall Of
their capital inevitable. The campaign
lasted twelve days only. The skirmish-
ing all day, and The marching all night,
and then on the last three days the rae
ing and pursuit, greatly wearied our
men. The only hope Of the enemy was
to push westerly ~ pathway which
led along the south Of the AppOmattox
River. That pathway was travelled by
many streams, and as they rushed along
it was only to find at every crossing
some hot vanguard. 1t was the last
night of the pursuit Sheridan, who
was just little way ahead, sent back
word that he was close upon the enemy
and likely 70 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 blackest midnight when, with
flushed faces and aching limbs, we
reached the goal. Down we lay in our
blankets supperiess: fevered by the
heat OF the march, then chilled by the
dcWs Of the Virginia spring. Scarcely
had the first dream begun, when
mounted officer splashes down the road, |
bearing IN his hand a note from SAeri- |
dan: III YOU can possibly push out
your infantry tonight we VIII have great
results in the morning
Almost before the lingering echoes OF I
the "Halt'' have died away the tired I
brain Of the dreamer hears the bugle /
note. The horses are hurried up. The +
men II m in short ranks. In three /
hours we have reached Appomattox /
Station. Already we can hear the sharp I
ring OF the hOarse artillery, drowned 81 /
the surly roar Of the Rebel guns There /
is no mistake. Sheridan is square /
across the Rebel retreat, and with that I
glorious cavalry alone, in which our I
First Maine Was an the very front, he /
was holding ut bay all that was LETT OF |
the proudest army OF tie Confederacy. |
Suddenly an officer from Sheridan APP
pears and delivers the message: .'Sir, /
Gen. Sheridan wishes you to draw oil |
two columns and come 10 bis 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 L
meath il sal tAat calm yet headiong man
mounted on a fiery stecd, that had turned I
the battle Of the Shenandoah. In full |
view of Us our cavalry was gallantly |
stemmlng the fire OF the StoueWall Jack |
son corps. We wheel into line of bat
Tie. Every arm Of the service was in
full play. On one side the line rolled |
back; on the other pressed irresstlbly |
ON. As the battle took shape we be-
came the extreme right Of Il semi-circle I
engoloping Lee Meantime the other
corps OF infantry were coming up and |
forming a sort of semi-circle. Coming |
mp on the rebel rear are the Second, /
Sixth and Ninth Corps of our army, and |
unless they can break through us within |
"a half-hour. all is lost by them. The |
Rebel batteries are drawn of from the |
crest, and they take their ground near
the courthouse of the little hamlet |
called AppomatteX. We press forward |
on The south sidc The die is east We |
hear the rattle Of ON liEhturtidery COM
iug UP behind, and we catch glmpscs |
OF Sheridan closing on the foe. We !
dash ON over swamp and stream. All !
is excitement. soon two horsemen |
camc gaioping from the Rebel line, one
OF them waving a flag OF truce.
The Aide makes his graceful sah-
tation and delivers his message: "Gen
Lougstreet desires 4 cessation Of hos
.tiit,s until he can hear from Gen.
Lee as To a proposal of surrender. "
Meanwhile. Of course, we still advance |
Nc have no orders To halt. but The |
firing slaCkcns on both sides In q !
moment the order comes to cease firing |
and to halt. A truce is agreed upon |
until 4 o clock in the afternoon. Four |
O'clock comes. No word from Lee |
aud Gran; is heard, SO what have we
to 10 after this but % resume HOSTILE |
tle.2 Fine order came: Prepare 10 |
make or receive an attack ia ten min /
ute- We pushed forward our Skin |
mi,h lines, bat lees and Grant had come |
Tue final answer is uot long coming |
noN. The surrender is maie by Lee T
WH&, vard TIA ass tuai ,k} must /
lt.t .rp De.u av3utt tH..tt gr, Jttt rent /