Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-04-11

advance for greater distance towards
Lynchburp il would have only served
| 20 render more certain the ability oil
General Grant to crush those remnants
Of General Lees army by concentrating
first upon one wing and then upon the
other. | soon discovered that. in addl-
ton to the troops in my front, there
were upon each flank overwhelming
forces, which il was impossible for my
command TO resist.
II will be perceived from this neces-
sarily condensed statement that 1t Is
clearly my opinion that General Grant
could have forced an unconditional sur
render. The fact that, in my opinion,
he could have compelled surrender
without conditions, aud yet did not de-
mand il, will also indicate what must
Of necessity be my opinion OF Gene
raj Grants magnanimity. As to the
inquiry in reference to the spccinc
act Of General Lees tender of his sword,
and of General Grants refusal to accept
il, know nothing. But | wish to say
in this connection, because | believe 1t
due to the truth of history as well as to
a great commander, that General Grants
every act toward General Lee and toward
his army at Appomattox was marked
by degree Of courtesy and generosity
which impressed every Confederate, and
which reflects great honor upon himself
and upon the American name.
Very respectfully,
j. Il. GORDON.
THE LAST BIvOUAC.
Further conversation turned upon
the scene Of the last bivouac, and the
circumstances which led TO the deter
mination to surrender. As will be OBJ
served from the statement OF General
Gordon above, the Federals were en-
sbled to make better time than the
Confederates, who were on the retreat
toward Lynchburg, travelling in paral-
lei lines---in fact, the head of the pur-
suing Federal column had pushed past
the Confederate head of column and
thrown up works across the Confede
rate front, which necessitsted surren-
der or fight. In this emergency, as the
shades of night began 20 gather around,
Lee called a council of war to decide
upon plan Of action. In rear, flank,
and front were masses of Federals, |
while the Confederates were few in |
number, worn out with constant march
ing, and suffering from hunger. twas
an impressive moment--such moment
as decides the fate of empires.
Upon little eminence in the woods
a brush fire was burning brightly. Re-
clining at full length on the ground be-
side il was that noble old hero, General
Robert +. Lee, his head resting upon
his saddle. his eyes vainly seeking a
few moments repose, but his brain was
too busy with thoughts Of the response
bility thrown upon his shoulders. As
he lay there it could be observed that
he was clothed in a well-worn gray sack
blouse, with ordinary gray pantaloOns,
while by his side was the black felt hat,
which had grown to be a part of
4" Uncle Bob" himself A figure
Of stalwart man approached-walking
slowly, as if fearful of the place. When
the freight fell across it, it disclosed
the face Of General LoDgstreet, the old
bulldog of the army. His flashing eye,
his full, black beard, his ill-ftting uni
form of lieutenant general, all presented !
a figure as sturdy as the giant oak
against which he leaned, unwilling to |
disturb his old commander. From OPP
posite directions then came General
Gordon, who, with LongStreet, COM
mandcd the two Confederate wings, and !
General Fitzhugh Lee. A manly, royal
pair they were, looking more like men |
who should be leading their soldiers |
into newborn conflict than being the
mournerS Of an expiring campaign. The
addition of General PendletOn, COM
handing the artillery, completed the
council
BY this time General Lee was recl-
ming upon his right elbow, and at once
disclosed the object of the council. |
With firm voice, yet giving evidence Of
the suppressed emotion under which he |
labored, he asked for the decision as to |
whether the four-y ears war should |
then come to an end. For three hours |
the discussion lasted, the fullest liberty |
of expression being given. 1t was the
unanimous decision that one desperate
attempt should be made to cut through |
the obstructing Federal works, and, by |
the delay thus gained, secure new
front, and under the prestige of the
temporary success gained, secure bet
ter terms from the Federals. The gen.
erals, some Of whom had been lying |
upon the ground, others sitting upon
the roots of trees, and others standing, |
were then ordered to prepare for the
last struggle. of the Confederacy. As
they turned away from the council-iire
and were lost in the darkness the fire |
burned more dimly, while for a long
time by its light Lee could be seen in
sitting posture, his head resting upon
his hand, in profound meditation.
THE LAST SHOT AND THE sURREN-
DER.
As General Gordon's wing was the
one upon which devolved the battle
which daylight would bring, he thus be-
came the central figure around which
the events Of the day should revolye.
"The attack was made" said General |
Gordon, the old freight flashing in his
eye, ave took the works, and had
pressed the enemy back, when a letter,
signed by General Lee, was borne to
me. II stated that under flag of
truce he was in negotiation with Gen
eral Grant, and that | might inform the
Federal commander-who | supposed
was General 0rd--of the fact. Calling
up my chief of staff, ordered him to
carry flag of truce into the Federal
lines with the information"
Did he carry it?"
Well" said General Gordon, with
grim smile, "not flag of truce ex-
actly--we had no flag, and it was i'm
possible to procure one. | told him to
get a stick and tie white handkerchief
toit.
"'There is not handkerchief in the