Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1884-01-11
THE SURRENDER or LEE
THE SCENE AS DESCRIBED BY ooNFEDERA
Aunfv frrnurArU

ence anu oDbefVhJoub OF hu army chaplain
have been running in the Methodist Protest
ant of Baltimore for some two years past.
In a recent number Of that journal we find
the close Of the series, in which is detailed
the surrender of Lee. DIR. Parvis, the writer,
is North Carolinian and a gentleman Of fine
literary attainments. He says:
The eventful day, Sunday, April 8, 1865,
dawned upon US. The nights rest had great
ly refreshed the war worn oonfederates The
line of march was taken up just after the
first CLEAN of light showed itself in the east.
Early's old division, composed of two North
Carolina brigades and one from Virginia,
took the front under Brigadier- General Walk
er. Fighting was expected. The confeder-
ate sharp shooters, which always composed
the skirmish line, had scarcely passed the
court house. which is but a small village, when
they came in contact with the federal pick
cts. A lively fuslade ensued. The line of
battle was quickly formed under the eye of
Gen. Gordon The battle soon became furi-
ous. The 6rst line of the federal troops was
broken and driven back with loss. l was sit
ting upon bank by the roadside noting
events in my diary when, at $50 O'Clock, two
batteries Of captured federal artillery (eight
guns) we're driven by me going to the rear.
In few moments the fire in front ceased,
and could discover our troops falling back
and taking up positions by brigades to the
rear.
At the same time white flag, borne by a
couple of federal officers at full speed came
out from the court house, and to the rear,
| and met Gen. Lee where our baggage wagons
were packed at the commencement Of the
| action. In a few minutes another white flag
borne by a couple of confederate officers,
was dispatched to the court house. The road
| ,Ia A.,Fa nka 1l
guards placed along it to keep every body out
of it, that the hag-bearers might pass from
| one point to the other at full speed At this
period the excitement among the confederate
| troops became intense, as it was well under
stood the confederate army was on the point
| of being surrendered.
Many seemed anxious to be led forward to
conquer or die on the field. Desperation
seemed to take hold on the men, or else the
men were overcome by desperation l quick.
/ ly resolved that l would not be included in
the surrender, and formed a plan with a
choice spirit to escape from the field and take
care of myself. One o'clock NJ. was the
| hour at which was TO strike for liberty or
| safety. Unwilling to act covertly in the mat
| ter, at ~ o'clock NJ. | went to my brigade
commander and told him the plan | had
formed, and asked him if he thought such a
step would compromise my honor in the
brigade. He replied Considering the re.
| ation you sustain to your regiment think
you would better maintain your honor by
abiding your fate" His answer subdued me,
and at once abandoned my plan of escape.
But numbers did escape and in no case did
| hear of failure on the part of any who
made the attempt. The first flag from Gen.
| Grant to Gen. Lee came in at $3.50 o'clock A.
NJ. by my watch. These flags continued to
pass and repass until z. NJ. History
often represents things strangely. His
tory gives Gen. Grants first note on this day
to Gen. Lee at 1870 p. NJ, when l have no
doubt Gen. Lee received Gen. Grants first
note at $50 A. N. viii some one better
skilled in history than am give us a solution
of this difficulty?
The morning had been bright and fair. By
noon dark and gloomy clouds gathered over
the whole face of tho sky. All nature around
US seemed to harmonize with our feelings
Sadness and gloom was impressed upon all
thinRs, both animate and inanimate. Men
growing desperate, officers were breaking
their swords in pieces to avoid the dshonor
of surrendering them. Major Gen. G. W.
Pickett, who led the storming column on the
third day at Gettysburg, tore up his flag and
| wore il around his shoulders. Men have
feelings. They can not control these feelings
at all times and under all circumstances. My
brigade surgeon came to me and urged me to
preach discourse to the troops l, too, had
feelings and declined what l could only re-
gard as a duty. My weight of feeling was
too powerful to undertake it.
| At 4:30 p. NJ. the second army corps was
formed in close column to hear the terms of
surrender. We were addressed by Gen. Cor
don, who sat upon his horse in front with his
hat in his hand, in the most moving and i'm.
| pressive speech to which have ever listened.
circumstances gave it force and character.
During its delivery men could be seen weep.
ing on every side. Men who had faced death
on many fields, and had fought with manly
irmness from Bull Run to Appomattox were
breaking down under the force Of that terri
ble word surrender. But the brave can weep
as well as fight for their country. Upon go
ing to the division ordnance wagons found
the lieutenant. commander weeping like a
child. Addressing me, he said 81 have
fought the Yankees from the beginning unit
now, and to surrender TO them is more than
eau bear 1t seems like it will break my
heart" Hope was dead. The grave wa
ready. It's funeral solemnities we're toe
weighty for the brave.
Night came On. But what a night. Suct
stealing as took place | never heard or reat
of before. 1t seemed like everything thai
could be stolen was stolen. just before tn,
i | sun went down subsltern of the quarter
masters department, whose condition be
? spoke an excess of whiskey, stepped up Il
: me, aud with much earnestness said II tel
| you, Mr. P, the confederacy is gone up
e Now, JEFF Davis owes you and me pretty
: good sum of money. Suppose that as soor
1 AS it gets dark we go to the wagons, get
: horse apiece. and strike out for home. |
: we don't do that we will never get cent.
+ had to decline the offer of my would b.
) friend
On the next day bought horse for 81,
bride for So, and a saddle for 500 My one
| dollar steed would have borne, with the ex
cepton of his eyes, SOME resemblance to the
charger rode by the Knight of La Mancha
On the afternoon of Tuesday, the 18th, ou
parole papers were announced as ready ant
we're all duly signed, and by the terms of sur
render we were permitted to go home. Or
Wednesday morning the confederate arm!
was to stack arms At sunrise the SeconC
army corps was paraded for the last time
Early's division, led by Gen. Walker, tool
the front. He rode one of the finest horse
| saw in the whole army, and placed himsel
in the march at the head of the division Ny
place was in the rear of my brigade with tn
surgeons But we were now passing unde
the yoke" aud l had become infected will
the decentralization so prevalent. 1 fell il
Just behind Gen. Walker upon my 81 horse
no man saying yea or nay. The march wa
as solemn as a funeral procession. Not
man spoke a word. The federal army, a
least a portion of it, was drawn up betwee
our camp and the court house upon our lef
about 40 steps from the road, and stood at OIL
der arms. When our division had rsache
the left of this line tho word Halt we
given. Left face, forward march, follow
ed When the advancing line had approach
ed within ten PAGES of the federal line tn
command Halt was heard. The rifles wei
stacked in the customary style, and the car
ridge boxes hung upon them.
Then came the last order / heard given
the army of Northern Virginia. Fall il
forward march" As the column reached Il
village, where the public roads diverge, g
cry officer and man struck for home by Il
ii most direct route. Not word of cheerI
! was heard from the federal troops, PerhaI
this was Gen. Grants orders. They lookt
on in silence.
An idle myth has been invented that Gee
Lee surrendered under an apple tree, Piec
In of wood have been shown about as pieces
the identical tree Gen. Lee surrendered
p- the hotel at the court house. Here he al
Grant met, and nowhere else. Here at Ge
Grants writing table he signed the stipul
? | tiona in tha AZ Lees nOtea we