The Portland daily press., 1883-12-28
Lees Surrender.
As Described by Chaplain Davis of this
Confederate Army.

glnla, took the trout Under Brig Gen.
Walker. Fighting was expected. The Con-
federate sharpshooLers, who always com
posed the skirmish line, had scarcely passed
the Court House, which is but a small vii
lage. when they came in contact with the
Federal pickets. A lively fusillade ensued
The line of battle was quickly formed under
the eye of Gen. Gordon. The battle soon
became furious. The first line of the FEEDER
al troops was soon broken and driven back
With loss. was sitting upon bank by the
roadside noting events in my diary, when,
at $50 o'clock, two batteries captured of
Federal artillery (eight guns were driven by
me, gong to the rear. In few moments
the fire in the front ceased, and / could dis
cover oar troops falling back and taking up
new positions 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 Court House, and went to the
rear and met Gen. Lee, where our baggage
wagons were packed at the commencement
of the action. In few minutes another
white flag, borne by a couple of Confederate
officers, was dispatched to the Court House.
The road was quickly cleared of every OBJ
struction, and guards placed along 1t to keep
everybody out of it, that the flag bearers
might pass from one point to the other at
full speed At this period the excitement
among the Confederate troops became in
tense, as it was well understood the Confed-
crate army was on the point Of being sur
rendered.
nd 1s.,.,c H. Ia r.
conquer or die on the field. Desperation
seemed to take hold on the men, or else men
were overcome by desperation. I quickly
resolved that ] would not be included in the
surrender, and formed plan with choice
spirit TO escape from the field and take care
OF myself. One O'Clock p. m. was the hour
at which was to strike for liberty or safety.
Unwilling to act covertly in the matter at
IL O'Clock m. | went to my brigade COM
mander, told him the plan I 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, think
you would better maintain your honor by
abiding its fate.'' His answer subdued me.
and at once abandoned my plan of escape.
But numbers did escape, and in no case
did hear of a failure on the part If any
who made the attempt, The first flag from
OSAs NAoAh ~ 0Cls LEG CdLu6 dL 0.0U D CLOCK
a. m. by my watch. These flags continued
to pass and repass until p. NJ. History Of
ten represents things strangely. History
gives Gen. Grants first note on this day To
Gen. Lee at 2.30 p. M, when l have no
doubt Gen. Lee received Gen. Grants first
note at s. 80 a. m.
The morning had been bright and fair. By
noon dark and gloomy clouds had gathered
over the whole face of the sky. All nature
no coz 7nd ~, L
feelings. Sadness and gloom were i'm
pressed upon all things both animate and in
animate. Men were growing desperate: of
hcers were breaking their swords in pieces
to avoid the dishonor of surrendering them.
Major. Gen. G. W. Pickett, who had led the
storming column on the third day at Gettys-
burg, 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. My brigade surgeon
came to me and urged me to preach dis
COURSE to the -troops---I, -too,~had@ feoliAss
and declined what could only regard as a
duty. My weight of feeling was too power
full to undertake it.
AT 4.30 p. m. the Second Army Corps was
formed in close column to hear the terms of
surrender. We were addressed bv Gen. Cor
don, who sat upon his horse in front with
his hat in his hand, in the most moving and
impressive speech to which I have ever lis
tened. Circumstances gave it force and
character. During its delivery men could
be seen weeping on every side. Men who
had faced death on many battlefields, and
had fought with manly frmness from Bull |
Run to Appomattox, were breaking down
under the force of that terrible word, sur
render. But the brave can weep as well as
fight for their country. Upon going to the
division ordnance wagons / found the Lieu
tenant Commander weeping like a child. |
ADDRESSING NE he said: II have fought the
Yankees from the beginning until now, and |
10 surrender TO them is more than I can |
bear. 1t seems like it will break my heart.,'
hope was dead. The grave was ready. It's |
funeral solemnltles were too weighty for the |
orave,
Nignt came on. But what night! Such |
slealng as took place then never heard or
read OF peIore. 1t seemed as if everything |
that could De stolen was stolen. Just be- |
lore lore inc sun went down subaltern of the
Quartermaster's Department whose condi- |
ton bespoke an excess of whiskey. stepped |
up to me and, with much earnestness. said |
II tell you, the Confederacy is gone up. |
Now, jeff Davis owes you and me a pretty |
good sum of money. Suppose that, as soon
as IL gets dark, we go to the wagons. get |
horse apiece, and strike out for home5 IF
we don't do that we will never get cent,
had to decline the offer of nv would-be
friend.
On the next day bought horse for Al
a bride for SIS and saddle for $50 Mvsi
steed would have borne, with the execution
of his eyes, some resemblance ia tba chargar
ridden by the Knight of La Mancha. On
the afternoon of Tuesday the 10Th. our ma
role papers were announced az ready. and
were all duly signed, and by the terms Of
we were permitted In on homo
On Wednesday morning the Confederate ar.
my was to stack arms At snnrise the Sac.
Dnd Army Corps was paraded for the Isst
time. EarIy's division lad hv Can WalLar
took the front. He rode one of the finest
horses | saw in the whole armv and nIaoaJ
himself in the march at The head Of tha a;
vision, Nv place was in the rsar ~ M, oIo h.,
yade. with the snroeons Rnt ,va rva Wy ~, w..
nnder the vols ), ond ia ny"
come infected with tbs aanoaraI,na LAY "
prevalent. fell in inst bebind Gan VIE, ~
,r. upon INV Al borse No mo-, sar; H , :, aiA
aay, The ia@roh was as solemn as a f1ner Al
procession. Not man spoke word, The
Federal army, at least portion Of H. was
irawn up between our camp and the Conrt
House on our left, about forty steps from
he road, and stood at order arms. When